Just a week ago the municipality received a slashing for appointing a security company to look after the Executive Mayor, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, even though they are apparently not registered for VAT.
The company, Track Optimum International, was paid R1 689 900 to look after the mayor and municipal assets after protests over housing erupted in Phola last year.
Against this backdrop, questions are now asked about the private security company that is also employed by the municipality.
Mjayeli Security was appointed in 2014 under the watch of former municipal manager, Mr Theo van Vuuren.
They too are employed to safeguard municipal assets, buildings and to manage access control in municipal buildings and facilities.
From February 2016 up to June 2017 they were paid R22 494 131.23 to guard municipal buildings.
To add more fuel to the fire, WITBANK NEWS has evidence that the municipality paid the Red Ants R38 006 332.51 for relocation, eviction and security services since 2012.
Looking at all the above, Emalahleni must have the safest guarded mayor, municipal buildings and assets in the country.
Mr Kingdom Mabuza last week said they will take a closer look at the way Track Optimum International secured their tender with the municipality.
About Mjayeli Security and the Red Ants he said they will scrutinise some of these contracts and check whether their pricing is market related or not.
Mabuza again pointed out that these security companies are not necessarily employed to guard the executive mayor, but employed to guard municipal buildings and assets. They are also responsible for access control.
“As and when there are threats directed to councillors including the executive mayor, we are obliged to offer security. It must be noted that her home in Phola was petrol bombed twice previously and her family was not compensated. It is a well known fact that councillors are attacked and killed elsewhere within South Africa, so we will not take things for granted when there are threats,” he said.
Mjayeli Security did not react to an email send by WITBANK NEWS and they did not return any calls.
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https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/101182/r1-6-million-protection/
