In response to the financial mismanagement crisis gripping KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has instituted forensic investigations against three struggling municipalities.
In a media briefing on Thursday, the MEC announced that he has authorised a Section 106 forensic investigation into the Msunduzi, KwaDukuza and Nongoma Municipalities.
Buthelezi said his action is mandated by Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, which stipulates that the MEC is obliged to conduct an investigation upon receipt of allegations pertaining to maladministration, fraud, and corruption within a municipality.
The move follows the damning report by the Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke who found that the finances of many municipalities in the province were in disarray.
The Auditor-General's latest report has revealed R6 billion in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure across the provincial municipalities
Buthelezi said the investigations will specifically address allegations of abuse of municipal assets, elevated levels of political instability, political interference in procurement processes, deficiencies in consequence management, contraventions of Supply Chain Management (SCM) regulations, irregularities in recruitment procedures as well as instances of maladministration, fraud and corruption.
“In the pursuit of transparency and accountability, the municipal councils are expected to extend full cooperation to the appointed investigators,” said the MEC.
Nongoma municipality in the north of the province is plagued by allegations of corruption which resulted in the arrest of the mayor Mshangane Ndabandaba, his deputy Sabelo Nkosi and Speaker Babongile Sithole. All are out on R5,000 bail.
In KwaDukuza, the issue has been the abuse of municipal assets where the mayor Ali Ngidi was accused of using the mayoral backup van to deliver his children to school.
Despite several interventions including placing it under the administration several years ago, Msunduzi municipality continues to struggle with financial issues.