She announced the plan as 4 investigation reports are already out and two mayors resign.
Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane has announced more investigations into complaints of municipal corruption, nepotism and bad governance – adding 4 more municipalities to her black list.
In November 2019, co-operative governance MEC Mandla Msibi announced investigations into the Govan Mbeki local municipality in Secunda, JS Moroka in Siyabuswa and Pixley ka Seme in Volkrust.
The reports are now out. They show how elected officials abused the public purse to live lavishly, including driving with bodyguards to casinos and claiming hundreds of rand’s in overtime money.
They also include discoveries of nepotism, where people who were politically connected got jobs, tenders and bursaries at the expense of the principle of fairness and transparency.
Tsipane announced she will probe Nkomazi local municipality, Bushbuckridge, eMalahleni and Thembisile Hani.
Her government also resolved to extend the period of administration at JS Moroka local municipality by a further six month.
Its mayor Thulare Madileng, fingered in wrongdoing, resigned with immediate effect on 1 October 2020.
Also Govan Mbeki mayor Thandi Ngxonono is said to have also resigned. She is fingered in wrongdoing and actions are recommended against her in Msibi’s report.
These decisions were taken while Tsipane’s cabinet met on Wednesday 28 October for their virtual executive council meeting.
Her spokeswoman Sibongile Mpolweni said the government will continue placing JS Moroka under intervention.
She said this will happen for 6 months “to stabilise the delivery of services”.
(edited by ZK)
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