ETHEKWINI councillor Sharon Hoosen, who raised suspicions over a “secret” report by deputy head of finance, Krish Kumar, at a council meeting last week, has written to the Public Protector calling for an investigation into the matter.
Hoosen was addressing council on the matter of the city renting office space for the relocation of municipal staff from their offices at 75 Langalibalele Dube Street, which is currently undergoing extensive renovations, at the Embassy Building and Old Mutual Towners at a cost of R54-million over a period of three years.
She revealed a report compiled by Kumar, in which he recommended that council owned sufficient office space in the city centre which could accommodate the relocation of the staff. Hoosen said the recommendation to lease office space was highly suspicious and requested permission to table the report.
It was then that matters took a downturn as Mayor Zandile Gumede refused to allow the report to be tabled and attempted to silence Hoosen. However, Hoosen, who still had time to speak, continued to address the matter forcing Speaker William Mapena to call her to order and requested she leave the council chamber.
Hoosen refused and when security was called to escort her out, Hoosen’s fellow DA councillors rose to form a human wall around her protecting her from the security officers. Mapena eventually said the matter would be taken to the ethics committee.
Kumar reportedly admitted that the report Hoosen had been referring to had been signed by him. He said the report had not been tabled at Exco, but that the city was looking into allegations that the municipality was being overcharged for rented office space.
Commenting on the incident, Councillor Chris Pappas said it was becoming increasingly difficult to deliver services that ratepayers are entitled to.
“It is even more difficult to try and uplift the many people in our community who live in poverty. All we want it a government that respects our freedoms, treats us fairly and creates a city of opportunity. This blatant defence of corruption is yet another sign of our failing city,” he said.
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