Forensic probes into three KZN municipalities
KZN
Cooperative Governance MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has initiated forensic
investigations into the Msunduzi, KwaDukuza and Nongoma municipalities.
The probes will be under Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act.
It stipulates that the MEC is obligated to conduct an investigation after receiving allegations pertaining to maladministration, fraud, and corruption within a municipality.
Buthelezi said he has received allegations of a flagrant abuse of taxpayer’s money and a lack of service delivery.
"Some of the allegations include abuse of municipal assets, high levels of political instability, political interference in procurement, a lack of consequence management, violations of the supply chain management regulations.
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“I will be introducing these investigation teams led by serious investigators to these three municipalities.”
Buthelezi also said that the latest municipal audit outcomes have revealed “a profound breach of public trust and a betrayal of the province's communities”.
The Auditor-General has found that the province's municipalities spent R9.6 billion irregularly, fruitlessly, and wastefully in the 2023/24 financial year.
"What this means is that you have R3.7 billion in unauthorized expenditure, we have R5.7 billion in irregular expenditure, and we have R272 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” he said.
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