VIDEO: Decision over fraud case looms for Tshwane’s first official deputy mayor

The case against Tshwane’s first official deputy mayor for defrauding South Africa’s Capital City is expected to be concluded by the end of February.

This was confirmed by Tshwane city manager Johann Mettler, who was briefing the media on the city’s finances.

During the investigation, mayor Cilliers Brink said the metro would also tighten its systems and controls in acquisition and stock management.

“We will be looking very carefully at which officials in the supply chain function of Tshwane try to undercut or undermine the systems and controls we are installing.

“The integrity management framework recently adopted by the council will allow the city manager to order lifestyle audits on officials.”

Brink had publicly welcomed Dr Nasiphi Moya’s repayment of the funds she had received four years before her election.

“All things considered, I am comfortable with her conduct. If the investigation makes findings against her and action needs to be taken, she has already said from the outset that she will accept that action. Paying back the money is a good measure and should be an example to others,” he said.

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The investigation into Moya has continued despite her reimbursing the financially challenged metro the R10 000 she was accused of defrauding it of four years ago.

Moya made the reimbursement earlier in February.

Moya was head of the chief of staff office at the time that Stevens Mokgalapa was mayor when the alleged fraudulent activity transpired. She previously admitted to keeping the funds in her purse for four years due to her lapse in judgement and Tshwane’s failure to request the funds back.

She stands accused of swindling money out of Tshwane when she received a subsistence allowance from the metro on a West Asia trip that she never undertook.

Her repayment comes after the opposition party EFF alleged she was guilty of fraudulent activities.

EFF in Tshwane is still waiting for the CM to release a report on the Corruption investigation into alleged financial misconduct by Action Sa Deputy Mayor in Tshwane .

Nasiphi Moya admits she failed to return the travel allowance she did not use .

— Obakeng Ramabodu (@RamaboduObakeng) February 14, 2024

According to Action SA Gauteng provincial chairperson Funzi Ngobeni, Moya had voluntarily repaid her subsistence allowance received from the Tshwane metro for the trip to Saudi Arabia in 2020.

“On February 2, the deputy mayor of Tshwane voluntarily returned the travel allowance, along with accrued interest, that had been paid by the City to her account for a trip subsequently cancelled.”

“Dr Moya had no control over the travel arrangements or the subsequent cancellation, thereby dispelling any insinuations suggesting impropriety on the part of the deputy mayor.”

Ngobeni said the failure to repay the money was also due to Tshwane’s failure to formally request the funds four years ago.

“Despite the city not having requested the return of this amount, Dr Moya has since repaid it in full. Moya had offered to pay interest on this amount, but the city could not accept it.

“Moya accordingly donated the interest to charity. A donation of R6 000 has been made to King’s Hope, a women’s shelter in Olievenhoutbosch,” he said.

According to Tshwane mayoral spokesperson Sipho Stuurman, the independent investigation into the allegations of fraud against the newly appointed Tshwane deputy mayor was ongoing,

“I can confirm that the deputy mayor has indeed made a payment of R10 000. The transaction was made and has since been confirmed by our finance division.

“The investigation by the office of the city manager is still ongoing.”

EFF Tshwane chairperson Obakeng Ramabodu wrote to the Tshwane city manager that their allegations have been vindicated and also exposed the corruption of her recent appointment.

He vowed to report the matter to the Public Protector or the Special Investigative Unit due to the serious implications thereof.

The EFF in Tshwane said it was aware that Moya had paid R10 000 to Tshwane.

“We are now awaiting the investigation report.”

It is understood the matter will soon be presented before the council.

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