DA takes stance on VBS reports

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo is adamant that appropriate steps be taken against all persons involved in the investment of public funds with VBS Mutual Bank (VBS) and is closely monitoring all developments in this regard.
The Ephraim Mogale Municipality intends to vote against recommendations regarding steps to be taken against the municipality’s suspended Municipal Manager, Monica Mathebela following her involvement in the investment of R124 million with VBS.
DA councillor in the municipality, Flip Jacobs in a media release informed that a report scheduled to be tabled at a council meeting tomorrow (Friday) recommends that Mathebela only be sentenced to three months suspension without payment and that she be ordered to attend short courses in management. “It is abundantly clear that the punishment does not fit the crime in this case,” Jacobs said.
“What worsens the situation is that the municipality has been paying two salaries, amounting to approximately R200 000 per month, to the suspended municipal manager, as well as another official acting in the same position. This is a further waste of taxpayers’ money. The double payments have been taking place since January 2019 and no steps have been taken to curb this unnecessary wasteful expenditure or recoup the municipality’s money and direct it towards service delivery,” Jacobs added.
According to Jacobs, the DA has already laid criminal charges in the VBS matter at the Marble Hall police station. “This case has been consolidated with our other charges across the province and the DA will follow-up on the progress in this regard,” Jacobs confirmed.
Spokesperson for Ephraim Mogale Municipality, Jan Phasha was requested to comment but the response had not been received at the time of going to press.
In another development, the DA in the Collins Chabane Municipality last week submitted an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (Paia) to obtain access to the forensic report pertaining to R120 million that was reportedly illegally invested by the municipality with VBS.
DA councillor in the municipality, Samson Muavha alleged in a media release that the investigations were completed a long time ago but the report has been withheld as it will, according to Muavha, pinpoint several senior officials and politicians who played a significant role in the investment.
“To compound the matter, municipal officials have allegedly tampered with the original report by drafting their own report, opting to omit crucial information that reveal the names of the implicated officials. Such behaviour should be seen as an active attempt to protect officials and shield them from accountability.
Our attempts to get the original version, as well as the second edited version of the report, have been fruitless. It is clear that the municipality is trying to hide some details and has failed to be transparent,” Muavha said.
“The municipality has 30 days to respond to our Paia application. The DA will interrogate the report and demand timeframes in relation to the implementation of the findings in the report. We will also not hesitate to lay further criminal charges, should it be necessary,” the statement concludes.
Communications Manager of the municipality Isaac Nokeri said that, from the municipality’s point of view, the matter is sub judice. “It is in the hands of the law enforcement agencies, as a municipality we are awaiting the outcome from our higher offices,” Nokeri stated.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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