SEDIBENG.- ActionSA recently strongly condemns the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Jacob Mamabolo for what it said was, “allowing the Emfuleni Local Municipality to treat the Gauteng Provincial Legislature with utter contempt”.

The party said that the MEC has permitted a blatant cover -up regarding the R16 million fleet procurement scandal to be tabled as an official response, proving that the provincial government is content to allow the embattled municipality to do exactly as it pleases.

ActionSA said that the scandal involves the municipality (ELM) allegedly paying for 17 vehicles but receiving only 6, one of which has subsequently disappeared without a trace.

“When ActionSA submitted Legislature Question COGTA 044 demanding answers on consequence management, criminal investigations, and the recovery of these misappropriated public funds, Emfuleni’s Municipal Manager, April Ntuli, evaded all accountability,” said Funzi Ngobeni, ActionSA Gauteng Caucus Leader.

The matter is still under the Council’s internal process

In response to six detailed questions, Ngobeni said, the Municipal Manager provided the exact same copied -and – pasted sentence: “The matter is still under the Council’s internal process, and an official update will only be provided once that process is concluded.”

“The CoGTA MEC reviewed this document and allowed it to be submitted to the GPL as an acceptable response this is a gross dereliction of his oversight duty. Particularly egregious is the municipality’s use of “internal processes” as a shield against opening a criminal case.”

ActionSA said that the opening of a criminal docket for missing public funds worth R16 million is not a discretionary internal matter but it is a strictly statutory obligation under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

“The provincial government will not bully or unlawfully interfere in municipal processes.”

“By allowing this delay, the MEC is effectively endorsing the municipality’s violation of the law, affording implicated officials ample time to conceal evidence. In response to this farce, ActionSA submitted urgent follow -up questions to the MEC, demanding real action rather than bureaucratic shielding, Ngobeni said.

In response to Ngobeni, Mambolo said that he rejects the misleading statements by Ngobeni

“The provincial government will not bully or unlawfully interfere in municipal processes.”

Mamabolo has referred the matter to the ELM which has since committed to an internal investigation into the matter. Mamabolo said this process must be allowed to unfold in accordance with the law.”