Patrick Mkhize, the municipal manager at Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality, has been suspended. This has been confirmed by several sources as well as the communication unit.
Chief financial officer Sibusiso Radebe has been appointed acting municipal manager.
While official comment is awaited from the municipality’s communication unit and chief whip of council Mbuzeleni Mkhize, the Estcourt News spoke to DA proportional representative councillor Musa Nkala who provided some insight into what he said ‘started the ball rolling’ to the suspension.
“A report was brought to the infrastructure portfolio committee which stated that money had been paid to a contractor for a stadium in KwaDlamini, Ntabamhlophe and that the project was 95% complete. When you look at the work on the ground, it is not even 10% complete,” said Nkala.
He further explained that the committee called for a full report on the stadium project to be tabled at a council meeting.
“The report that we received was not the same that was sent to the infrastructure portfolio committee. There were a lot of contradictions. One of them being that the project was 77% complete, unlike previously stated that it was 95% complete,” Nkala said.
He said that council had decided to launch an investigation.
“This is misuse of public funds and, as the DA, we do not stand for that,” Nkala stated.
A decision to suspend the municipal manager was taken on February 9.
This is a developing story and more information will be provided as received.
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