KwaDukuza Local Municipality in KZN allegedly paid more than R500 000 for the EFF to bus their supporters to the party’s birthday celebrations at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, in return for their coalition votes to reach quotas in the ANC-controlled municipality.
The Public Protector’s office is investigating, based on information from a whistleblower.
According to News24, a recent recording reveals some of the dubious ways in which the KwaDukuza councillors managed to secure the funds for their buses.
A source with knowledge of the affairs of the municipality wrote: ‘The MM (municipal manager, Nhlanhla Mdakane) arranged for a service provider for the municipality to pay (company name removed). The reason for the payment by the MM to the EFF councillors was to support the motion that the executive director for economic development and planning, Sikhumbuzo Hlongwane, be given the human settlement position and to vote for the suspension of the CFO of the municipality’.
The whistleblower stated that they had crucial information regarding corruption, financial mismanagement and various unethical practices within the KwaDukuza municipality, with Mdakane and Hlongwane being the ‘God Fathers’ (sic) of looting and corruption.
‘What I have highlighted here is only the tip of the iceberg of one of the most corrupt municipalities in SA. I am hoping for my exposure despite great fears of my life if identified will cause others working in the municipality to also report other acts of corruption and wrongdoing.’
Public Protector spokesperson Ndili Msoki said the matter was registered on 30 August and had been allocated to an investigator.
[Image: https://effonline.org/]