The office of the executive mayor was alerted to an unauthorised electronic message last Friday.
The message was titled “Large scale looting at the City of Ekurhuleni” and was circulating on social media networks.
The message allegedly made unsubstantiated allegations against senior government officials within the metro.
The mayor reminds the public that the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, Section 34-37 (PCCA) obliges any person who holds a “position of authority” who knows of or ought reasonably to have known or suspected that another person committed a corrupt activity or the offence of theft, fraud, extortion, or forgery to report such knowledge or suspicion or cause such knowledge or suspicion to be reported to any police officer if an amount of R100 000 or more is involved.
Failure to comply with this obligation is an offence punishable by a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years.
The PCCA Act furthermore defines a position of authority to include a partner in a partnership, a chief executive officer and any other person who is responsible for the overall management and control of the business or public institution of an employer.
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This means, a person who holds a position of authority, including a manager of a business or public institution, who knows or ought reasonably to know that any other person has committed a corrupt activity or theft, fraud, extortion or forgery, must report it.
Failure to do so could result in the person facing the possibility of a 10-year jail sentence.
The public may also report fraud and corruption anonymously and confidentially to the metro’s dedicated corruption hotline, on 0800 102 201 or email to emm@thehotline.co.za.
“We remain committed to a zero-tolerance stance on corruption in the City of Ekurhuleni and we urge the public to report acts of corruption to the relevant law enforcement agencies or the metro’s dedicated corruption hotline.
“We can only effectively fight the scourge of fraudulent conduct if we report cases to the police,” said the mayor, Mzwandile Masina.
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