eThekwini officials could be liable for military vehicles purchase
eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede says action will be taken if it's established that due processes were not followed when the city purchased four armoured Casspirs for the police.
Gumede made the comment at an Executive Committee meeting yesterday. She says officials will be held accountable, if necessary.
Gumede told EXCO that she's waiting for a report from the relevant officials regarding the purchase of the four casspirs - to the tune of nearly R20-million.
The municipality says the armoured vehicles were initially bought to deal with crowd management deployment.
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Gumede says municipal staff are aware of the procedures that need to be followed and declined to comment further until the report was finalised and presented to the Executive Committee.
eThekwini was criticised for purchasing the casspirs - with some groups saying it amounted to the militarisation of the Metro Police. mOfficials said the vehicles would help protect officers during unrest and riot situations.
Meanwhile, staffing issues will be deliberated at a special ExCo meeting on Monday.
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Gumede says staffing issues will be addressed to ensure transparency in the City.
She says eThekwini has no room for lazy or incompetent officials - adding that the municipality is in the business of service delivery.