The DA’s motion, seconded by IRASA’s Isak Berg, called for the Ekurhuleni Metro’s city manager and chief accounting officer, Khaya Ngema, who is alleged to have been involved in the Qbit tender, to be placed on suspension until and if he is cleared of any wrongdoing.
DA chief whip in Ekurhuleni Fortune Mahano said the urgent question put to the mayor, Mondli Gungubele, for reply, set out to ascertain who authorised Ngema to appoint a forensic accounting investigation company, Gobodo, to look into the issue, when, in fact, council had resolved, 18 months ago, that the Qbit matter be dealt with by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
But neither the motion nor the questions were allowed on the agenda by Speaker Patricia Kumalo, who gave as her reason that the matter was already before council in a confidential item and would be debated during the meeting.
The DA said it rejected this as a valid reason, because there is no guarantee that the in-committee item would address the concerns contained in the motion and question.
“This is tantamount to a cover-up and an attempt to protect a senior official,” said Mahano.
“The DA is determined to get answers on the matter, as it is not only irregular in terms of council processes, but, as Ngema is also implicated in the matter which Gobodo was meant to be investigating, it is also a conflict of interests.”
