Democratic Alliance (DA) MMC for Economic Development, Sharon Peetz has been cleared of allegations of misusing her power for personal gain.
The African National Congress (ANC) Joburg spokesperson, Jolidee Matongo, claimed that evidence was provided to Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba about Peetz allegedly using her power to get free international travel for a relative. Matongo said the ANC would support Mashaba’s ‘corruption crusade’ if it was genuine and fair.
The ANC also claimed that Mashaba had planned to suspend several executives on allegations of subverting procurement processes related to the urgent establishment of the office of the Joburg Ombudsman in 2015. Matongo, citing the Peetz investigation, called the mayor’s efforts a pretence which ‘must be rejected with the contempt it deserves’.
“Mashaba has embarked on a smear campaign targeted at heads of departments simply because they were appointed by the ANC,” Matongo said.
Spokesperson for the City of Johannesburg, Tony Taverna-Turisan returned fire saying that the ANC is ‘clutching at straws in its desperate attempts to discredit the new administration in Johannesburg’.
“Since taking over this administration, Mashaba has been inundated with cases of corruption and forensic reports which had been swept under the carpet by the previous ANC administration. It rings hollow for the ANC to suddenly develop a conscience on such matters,” he said.
Regarding claims about Petz, Taverna-Turisan said that upon the allegations being brought to the mayor’s attention, he commissioned an independent investigation into the matter. This investigation, Taverna-Turisan said, completely cleared the MMC.
“It is disgraceful that the ANC would deliberately try and spread lies to discredit MMC Peetz,” he said.
According to Taverna-Turisan, corruption within the City totalling more than R60 million has already been exposed.
“This is only the tip of the iceberg and other investigations are at an advanced stage. These investigations are into transactions worth billions of rands.”
Randburg Sun has made contact with Peetz and the story will be updated once new information becomes available.
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