COGTA MEC calls on officials to spend less on security

Sipho Hlomuka met with 54 municipal mayors in Ulundi on Tuesday.

He says while he acknowledges there's a need to protect councillors and officials in the province, the current practice is becoming unsustainable.

But Hlomuka says they do not want to compromise safety, where a real threat exists. 

"We found that there are a number of councillors that have protection and have cars which they are spending more money on. They did agree on that matter, and we said we are going to look into that matter and play an oversight. Councillors and officials must not misuse state funds."

"We are gunning for clean audits in all municipalities and we have developed a plan of which all municipalities must comply with," he said. 

Earlier this month Umvoti Mayor, Thamsanqa Ngubane revealed at a press conference that R18 million had been spent on security for him and seven senior officials in the past year because of death threats.

READ: Umvoti municipality coughs up R18m on personal security for senior officials

It was after residents protested demanding that he step down and accusing the municipality's leadership of abusing public funds.

Ngubane said the the security detail was necessary because his house had been torched and senior municipal official killed last year.