Mpumalanga Government’s Executive Council released a statement at the end of November that it has noted the progress made by the municipalities, including Govan Mbeki Municipality, where section 106(1)(b) of the local government municipal systems act, 2000 was instituted.
According to the EXCO, GMM has implemented the recommendations of the investigation.
Mr Mandla Msibi, former MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), tabled the terms of reference for forensic investigation during an extraordinary council meeting held in the council chambers on Thursday, 22 November 2019.
The terms of reference included non-implementation of council resolutions, the abuse of municipal property and assets, advertisement of tenders without following legislation and awarding of bursaries without following procedures.
The investigation under Section 106 (1) (b) of the Municipal Systems Act, 32 of 2000 which states that if the MEC has reason to believe that a municipality in the province cannot or does not fulfil a statutory obligation binding on the municipality or that maladministration, fraud, corruption or any other serious malpractice has occurred or is occurring in a municipality in the province, the MEC must designate a person or persons to investigate the matter.
In Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, the investigation findings were the non-compliance with the recruitment, selection and acting appointment procedures, as well as nepotism.
The appointment of the Chief Financial Officer was made in contravention with the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000.
The investigation found the municipality guilty of non-implementation of municipal council resolutions and irregular maladministration in the awarding of bursaries, the irregular extension or termination of service providers’ contracts, and irregular spending and underspending of MIG funds and Water Services Infrastructure Grants (WSIG).
GMM also failed to complete initiated projects.
It was also that GMM abused and did not comply with the supply chain management processes, including advertising of tenders and wrongful disciplinary action against employees.
