This was revealed in a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report to parliament recently. The report stated that a total of 78 officials at the municipality are under investigation. Of the 78 officials, 48 have been referred to the NPA for criminal activities including fraud and contraventions of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA).
18 have been referred for disciplinary action and twelve for administrative action. According to DA MPL, Desireé van der Walt, the report shows the extent to which Limpopo local government officials looted state coffers. She said in the province as a whole, 99 cases from the report have been referred for disciplinary and executive action, and a further 89 referred to the NPA.
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35 referrals were made for administrative action. “The full extent of financial losses incurred is yet to be determined, but there are currently three civil actions on dodgy contracts worth R544 265 616 underway.” She said that to date, only R40 484 has been recovered through acknowledgement of debt agreements.
“The SIU’s report lists procurement irregularities, poor record-keeping, employment irregularities, poor leadership, poor governance, inadequate risk management, and lack of consequence management as reasons behind the rampant corruption,” said Van der Walt. According to her, the Limpopo SIU is investigating six municipalities of which two have been finalised.
“The DA welcomes the report and the steps taken by the SIU to deal with these matters. We cannot allow rotten cadres to remain in public service; they must be dismissed and where relevant, criminal cases must be opened,” she added. Herald contacted MDM spokesperson, Odas Ngobeni on their reaction to the number of officials investigated. He said that they process SIU reports as and when they are made available to council. “We do not have the report that collaborates the presentation in parliament,” he said.
