LIMPOPO – The Tshikota Youth Forum is accusing Makhado Municipality officials and councillors of fraud, nepotism and corruption, last week marching to the municipality to hand over a memorandum of their grievances.
Their main concerns, as contained in the memorandum, centre around allegations of corruption and nepotism, contracts that are awarded to those connected to municipal officials, and the high incidence of unemployment.
The group marched from Tshikota to the municipal offices in Louis Trichardt on 27 July, displaying banners accusing officials and councillors of hiring friends and family members, and awarding contracts to connections.
The march was led by the Makhado Local Economic Development Project Steering Committee, with chairperson Happy Mugobi maintaining that the recruitment process was influenced by councillors. Deserving applicants were side-lined, and friends and family of councillors end up being appointed, Mugobi alleged.
“We are fed-up with corruption and nepotism in this municipality. Some people are occupying positions that they don´t qualify for. Workers must be employed based on their credentials, not based on favour. We are going to fight this, and we want the vacant positions of directors and managers to be filled immediately.”
Makhado Mayor Samuel Munyai promised to respond and to visit the Tshikota township within 14 work days.
Unemployment, as elsewhere in the country, remains a problem, he admitted, but he denied the allegations of fraud, corruption and nepotism.
