MEC delays muni’s forensic report

Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader, Jacques Smalle and Modimolle-Mookgophong Mayor Marlene Van Staden were unable to brief the media regarding the recommendations and findings of a report on the investigation of allegations into irregularities pertaining to payments and procurement processes in the municipality on Tuesday morning as scheduled.
Smalle explained that the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) Basikopo Makamu was scheduled to brief the municipality on the findings in the report during a council meeting on Monday and engage with the full council on the matter. “The MEC, however, arrived and indicated that he is only prepared to meet with the Executive Committee of the council and the Political Management Team (PMT) and provide them with the report. The report was sealed and a special council meeting is scheduled for this Friday to interrogate and debate the report,” Smalle said.
Van Staden expressed her dismay at the fact that the Provincial Government had the report since February but refused to release it. “It is clear that the release of the report was deliberately delayed until after the elections on 8 May. In the meantime no measures could be implemented to hold those responsible for looting the municipality’s coffers to account,” Van Staden said.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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