Note to editors: Please find attached the English soundbite by Cllr Teboho Thulo and Sesotho by Cllr Stone Makhema.
In line with a recent council decision, the DA-led Fezile Dabi District Municipality has entered into a secondment agreement with the Special Investigative Unit (SIU). This agreement will facilitate the investigation of past allegations of corruption and instances of fruitless and wasteful expenditure within the previous municipality administration over recent years.
One of the key areas under investigation is the appointment of a service provider for the installation and configuration of a video conferencing thermal and UVC light solution, along with support and maintenance for 36 months. It is suspected that this appointment, which exceeds R7 million, did not adhere to MFMA guidelines. The questionable payments associated with this contract necessitate a thorough investigation.
This secondment commenced on 1 May 2024 and is scheduled to conclude on 30 October 2024, with the possibility of an extension.
The services provided by the SIU will not only gather pertinent information for the municipality but will also facilitate the arrest of perpetrators, aid in implementing consequence management within the institution, refer serious criminal offences to the South African Police Services, and initiate civil recovery procedures to reclaim misappropriated funds.
Establishing an efficient, professional, and merit-based public service system focused on delivering quality services to the community has been a top priority for the DA government.
Through this initiative, the DA-led municipality reaffirms its commitment to transparent governance and accountability, ensuring that the provision of services to the citizens of the region remains uncompromised.