The allegations levelled against the man include corruption, nepotism and issue of travel allowances.
A petition has been submitted asking eMalahleni mayor Linah Malatjie to suspend director of corporate services Mandla Vilane who is accused of intimidating those who are complaining about his alleged corruption and nepotism.
The DA says Malatjie received the petition from a string of employees from the municipality, asking her to investigate a ‘hit list’ allegedly compiled by Vilane to assassinate those who lift the lid against him.
The DA’s Naritha Naidu in the municipality said no one should be scared of Vilane and “takes these rumours of the ‘hit list’ seriously”.
“Employees and councillors are living in fear. The alleged ‘Hit List’ has names of those who are speaking out against corrupt activities in the municipality,” Naidu said.
On Tuesday this week, a group of employees approached mayor Malatjie requesting that Vilane be suspended and investigated.
The petition they submitted to Malajie alleges that –
• Employees who are in disagreement with Vilane and his friends are placed on the alleged hit list
• There is inconsistencies in how the municipality deals with punishing those found guilty by an internal disciplinary process.
• There is nepotism where relatives of senior managers are appointed in positions and the EPWP.
• Travelling allowances have been taken away from the municipal employees.
• Employees who are vocal against corruption are promised better positions to keep them quiet.
“We take these rumours of the alleged ‘hit list’ very serious, especially when one considers the province’s history of assassinations of politicians and government employees who are vocal against corruption,” Naidu said.
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“We believe that this matter is way bigger than mayor Malatjie and the council and must be addressed by co-operarive governance MEC Speedy Mashilo. We also call on the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the HAWKS to investigate the existence of the alleged ‘Hit List’,” said Naidu.
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“Despite the intimidation, DA councillors in eMalahleni will not stop exposing corruption in the municipality, such as when we exposed Vilane, the chief financial officer Jabulile Hlatshwayo and the municipal manager Sizwe Mayisela during a council meeting in July 2018 for upping their salary scale without a Council resolution,” she said.
The mayor’s office confirmed they have received the petition and will look at the allegations.
(edited by ZK)Send tip-offs to editor@013.co.za
