VANDERBIJLPARK –. Following the mass suspension of 17 officials, the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) this week continued its anti-corruption and compliance drive by firing five employees who refused to work from its offices.
The firing of the five – who were dismissed for refusing to come in to work – follows the cautionary suspension of an Executive Director this week, said ELM.
The Executive Director: Shared Services was placed on cautionary suspension on Tuesday, ELM has confirmed. Executive Directors are highly senior report in directly to the Municipal Manager.
Cautionary suspension indicates that sensitive investigations are under way and that there are fears that incumbents could interfere with witnesses and investigations if left in place.
The other 17 officials suspended last week come from a broad sweep of ELM departments, including Fleet Management, Shared Services and Community Services.
Over and above the 17 suspended officials and Executive Director, another two officials have already been dismissed, said ELM.
The dismissals and suspensions are part of a Consequence Management drive by ELM Municipal Manager April Ntuli.
The last time such a senior official was placed on cautionary suspension was with former ELM CFO Andile Dyakala who was fired last year.
Several of the 17 officials were suspended over alleged diesel theft from ELM – a major problem for the municipality over the years as internal syndicates within ELM have bled the municipality dry with regard to huge fuel thefts.
It is also known that one official was suspended for allegedly providing a fake licence to a spaza shop.
The suspensions were reported this week (Tuesday) at a special ELM council meeting by Ntuli.