The Democratic Alliance (DA) in uThukela has written to the Municipal Manager Mr L.S Jili, demanding urgent clarity on the findings of a damning forensic investigation into irregular security tenders that cost the municipality more than R10 million.
Media reports have revealed that a forensic report has implicated the Executive Mayor, Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala, the Speaker, and other senior officials in the illegal appointment of bodyguards. The Mayor is reportedly walking around with up to 12 guards, far exceeding the legal limit of two.
Instead of acting against those implicated, the municipality suspended 12 junior officials who have since quietly returned to work. Shockingly, the municipality failed to recover the millions lost through these irregular contracts.
The DA has now formally demanded that the Municipal Manager provide full written responses within 10 working days to the following:
- When the forensic report was formally tabled before Council and whether Council resolutions exist on its recommendations.
- Who the implicated parties are, and what disciplinary or corrective action has been taken.
- What steps have been initiated under Section 32 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) to recover wasted public funds.
- Whether the matter has been referred to law enforcement agencies, including the Special Investigating Unit.
- Whether the municipality has complied in full with the High Court’s ruling on unpaid salaries.
The people of uThukela have a right to know why public funds were misused on illegal VIP protection contracts while basic service delivery continues to collapse.
If no transparent response is received, the DA will escalate the matter to the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Auditor-General, and law enforcement authorities.
Corruption and maladministration continue to rob our communities of services and dignity. The DA will not rest until those responsible for looting municipal coffers are held accountable.