Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Dirk Kotze and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned by the Auditor-General’s (AG) findings that Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM) has persistently failed in consequence management.
The DA has requested our National Spokespersons on Police, Lisa Schickerling MP and Ian Cameron MP, to ask the Hawks management to explain why investigations remain unresolved, will write to the City Manager to ensure that all findings by independent investigators are tabled at the next Council meeting, and will urge the Speaker to require the Chairperson of the Disciplinary Board to report to Council urgently.
Of particular concern is that several investigations into serious financial and governance irregularities have been ongoing since as far back as 2015, with some reports by independent investigators still outstanding. Despite nearly a decade passing, residents have seen no accountability, no disciplinary outcomes, and no criminal consequences.
The Executive Mayor (EM), Cllr Gregory Nthatisi, has failed to provide Council with any feedback or formal reports on the Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) forensic report tabled by the Department of Transport, or on the ransomware cyber-attack that occurred in October 2023.
Despite repeated written requests from the DA, Nthatisi has not furnished any updates, nor has he provided SAPS case numbers or confirmation that these matters were reported to the Hawks for further investigation.
This raises serious and troubling questions, particularly in light of the ongoing investigations by the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary Ad Hoc committee into allegations of corruption within the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department.
- Who are the Hawks protecting, and why has there been no meaningful feedback to Council or the public on these investigations?
- Why is Mangaung Metro not receiving progress reports or final findings on cases that were formally referred for investigation?
- Why is municipal management failing to table investigation reports in Council, despite repeated commitments to transparency?
- How is it acceptable that a disciplinary board has been appointed for more than 18 months, yet Council has not received a single report or outcome from this body?
This culture of silence and delay undermines public trust and sends a clear message that wrongdoing carries no consequences in Mangaung. While residents endure collapsing services, rising debt, and failing infrastructure, those responsible for mismanagement appear to be shielded from accountability.
Residents deserve answers. They deserve accountability. And they deserve a municipality that puts the public interest first.