Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Stone Makhema and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Jacques Barnard.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Metsimaholo will formally write to the Speaker of Council, Councillor Lucas Fisher, to initiate an immediate investigation into allegations of corruption involving EFF Councillor Manana Mozolo.
This is after recent media reports implicating her in interfering with the construction of a graveyard and in the possibility of doing business on a municipal project in Amelia.
For over 4 years now, there has been no sign of completion of these municipal projects. Over R10 million has already been spent, and yet what we see speaks a different language from what has been paid.
The current situation depicts a site that has been abandoned, with reports that the main contractor and subcontractors have even left the site in fear of being bullied by the said councillor.
According to code 6 (1) (a) of the code of conduct for councillors, a councillor must disclose to the municipal council, or to any committee of which that councillor is a member, any DIRECT OR INDIRECT personal or private business interest that that councillor, or any spouse, partner or business associate of that councillor may have in any matter before the council or committee.
Code 6 (2) also states that a councillor who or whose spouse, partner, business associate or close family member acquired or stands to acquire any direct benefit from a contract concluded with the municipality must disclose full particulars of the benefit of which the councillor is aware at the first meeting of the municipal council.
The Auditor-General also requires that public representatives disclose their family members.
It is evident that if the above have not been satisfied, a breach of the code has occurred.
Code 15 (1) under Schedule 7 of the Municipal Structures Act 36 of 2021, as amended, also states that if the speaker of the municipal council, on reasonable suspicion, thinks that a provision of the code has been breached.
The speaker must authorise an investigation into the facts and circumstances of the alleged breach to give the councillor a reasonable opportunity to reply in writing regarding the alleged breach and to report the matter to a meeting of the municipal council thereafter.
We are disturbed by the above allegation and believe that only an investigation will provide a way forward on this matter. Our people have been waiting for services for too long, and we cannot allow corrupt elements hiding behind the councillorship to derail our development within our communities.