City Parks ‘rotten’

A syndicate exploiting opportunities to enrich themselves is operating unhindered, plundering the coffers of Joburg’s City Parks department. And a damning report by the Hawks exposing the rot within City Parks was given to the City of Joburg on December 14 – and appears to have gone ignored. The Hawks have been based at the City Parks offices in Braamfontein for many weeks, investigating allegations of fraud and corruption.

The report, seen by The Star, says the syndicate continues to operate “due to the nature of its links within the organisation and outside”. And the City of Joburg’s MMC for public safety, Matshidiso Mfikoe, who was MMC of environment, corporate and shared service at the time, was apparently aware of the problems but did nothing. A complaint has been sent to the council accusing Mfikoe of using City of Joburg money for personal expenses. She is alleged to have had a makeover ahead of a concert held by City Parks, paid for by ratepayers. Her staff were made to buy her gifts for several occasions, such as Valentine’s Day and birthdays, and had been instructed to give her gifts at her farewell. She is also accused of taking 100 charity concert tickets for relatives and friends.

In September last year, several months after she had left City Parks, Mfikoe is alleged to have made the department pay R1 389 for her cellphone repairs. The Star is also in possession of a document that shows she was present when tree “fixing” was discussed. This was a deal that would see a company making 100 percent profit on the sale of trees in which trees meant for 20-litre bags were passed off as bigger, more expensive plants in 50-litre bags. Mfikoe is also accused of giving jobs at City Parks to her unqualified brother and her personal assistant’s husband.

The Hawks report fingered ousted former City Parks managing director Luther Williamson for having recruited several of his ex-colleagues, promoting them to high positions. The report states: “He recruited persons who he trusted and knows well to assist him in the management of City Parks to exploit opportunities to enrich himself and those associated with him.” Former colleague Geoff Cooke was appointed manager and promoted to operations executive, then took over as acting managing director when Williamson was ousted. He resigned on February 29 when the allegations regarding his questionable appointment emerged.

The Hawks said Williamson was assisted with the full knowledge of the executive and senior management. An earlier forensic report by an independent company showed “a pattern and possibility of fraud and corruption”, but recommendations that a criminal investigation be done and disciplinary action taken were ignored. Other irregularities found by the Hawks include:

• Contracts in excess of R200 000 were awarded without going to tender;
• Companies received orders prior to their appointment;
• Fifa World Cup tickets to the value of R350 000 were purchased for staff, despite the National Treasury prohibiting this;
• Numerous tickets to sporting and music events such as the R Kelly and John Legend concerts as well as big soccer games with no relevance to City Parks activities were purchased. Bookings were done for an inflated number of attendees, and excessive bookings cancelled, but funds were not returned.
• A DVD on City Parks was commissioned at a cost of R454 000, but has never been received.
• Patrick Meyer, another former Williamson colleague who recently resigned, failed to disclose his interest in a company called Mzanzi, which did business with City Parks.
• Trees that often did not comply with specifications were bought at inflated prices. This was despite an arboriculturalist’s warnings that the trees did not stand a chance of survival;
• Invoices for watering services were duplicated with different dates, according to photographic evidence. The watering contractor operated from City Parks’s Klipspruit depot with unroadworthy vehicles, and licences that were not valid; and
• The City Parks head office in Braamfontein was purchased in 2009 while Williamson was head of Pikitup and only acting MD of City Parks. Another of his former colleagues, who renovated his Kyalami house, was commissioned to renovate the offices. The head office still does not have a certificate of occupancy.

The council was contacted for comment on Thursday, Friday and yesterday, but no response had been received. Communications head Gabu Tugwana said yesterday he had been in church – as were the people who had to reply – saying that last week The Star published the city’s comments two days after deadlines given. Last week, Tugwana said: “Allegations made against councillor Mfikoe should be treated as hearsay and innuendo until a formal investigation has been completed.”