Jozini’s R92m in irregular expenditure

The Jozini Local Municipality lost more than R92 million through irregular expenditure because of deliberate acts of misconduct by senior managers, the provincial government said. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) made the revelations in a forensic report released to the municipal council on Wednesday. Cogta spokesman, Lennox Mabaso, said the department had uncovered wide-ranging corruption, fraud, nepotism and staff victimisation at the municipality and had urged its council to take swift action against individuals fingered by the report. This is one of a number of hung municipalities run in a coalition between the ANC and the National Freedom Party (NFP) in the province.

“The long-awaited forensic report into allegations of tender irregularities, corruption and nepotism is now before the Jozini council and the ball is in its court,” Cogta MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said. “We expect nothing less than swift implementation of the report’s recommendations.” Earlier this year, Dube-Ncube appointed Deloitte, an independent forensic firm, to investigate procurement irregularities, corruption and maladministration, as well as staff victimisation. After months of investigations, the report revealed that the most serious allegations included the irregular award of a tender for solar high mast lights worth more than R4 million, over-expenditure relating to the renovations of Jozini community halls and venues, and various personnel-related issues.

The investigation also revealed serious acts of fraud and corruption, allegedly perpetrated by senior officials. It is alleged that business partners of a top manager had benefited from tenders, there were no declaration of interests by officials, senior officials gave work to companies without capacity and staff approved advance payment for work not done. According to the MEC, these allegations have been proven to be of substance and there were a string of criminal, disciplinary and civil proceedings against three senior officials suspended in May, and some current employees. “These findings are proof that this investigation was conducted without fear or favour and our appeal now is to the Jozini council to consider the report and action these recommendations within 21 days, in a process which we at Cogta will observe closely,” said Dube-Ncube.

Mabaso, said the report would be available once the municipal council dealt with its contents and decisions were made on what steps to follow. Deputy mayor and NFP member, Thokozani Mdluli, said he had answers to the questions relating to the report, but that he would rather reserve his comments as the matter was yet to be discussed in council. Jozini council Speaker, Zanele Nyawo, confirmed receipt of the report. She said: “The next step would be for council to meet, while at the same time the municipal legal adviser will be consulted.” Asked about the impact of corruption on service delivery, Nyawo said: “Service delivery is taking place but we as councillors were not aware that there was corruption in certain sections of the municipality. Appropriate action will be taken (against) those implicated.”