Activist wants protector to probe Eden

ACTIVIST Mike Hampton has filed a complaint of maladministration and corruption at the DA-run Eden municipality with the Office of the Public Protector after he claims his pleas to the party’s hierarchy fell on deaf ears.

Hampton earlier met an official from the office and has made nine submissions alleging tender irregularities, illegal appointments of staff to senior positions, funds meant for empowerment spent on consultants and deliberate loss of millions in public funds.

Hampton hopes an inquiry will lead to a full investigation.

“I hope that justice still exists in this country and this municipality is sequestered into administration.

“I have made numerous attempts to engage the municipality to find answers and sincere investigations into these allegations. I have rather been victimised and publicly targeted in attempts to discredit me,” he said.

Last year Hampton with another Knysna resident handed a petition to Parliament’s committee on petitions and executive undertakings, levelling the same allegations against the municipality.

“The situation with the committee remains in limbo and I have submitted a formal complaint to the secretary to Parliament. I believe a fair and thorough investigation by the public protector would result in the Eden Municipality’s administration being found 100% guilty.”

Hampton said his attempts to persuade the DA provincial hierarchy to look into the allegations had been fruitless.

Public protector spokesperson Oupa Segalwe confirmed the submission of the allegations by Hampton. “There is no investigation under way as yet and the complaint is still being assessed. The complaints vary from alleged maladministration to corruption,” he said.

“After our colleagues have completed their assessment they will submit their findings. If the assessment reveals the need, we will open a formal investigation.”

Knysna DA constituency chairperson Peter Myers said there were no meetings or any contact with any official from the public protector’s office, that there was nothing new in the allegations and that Hampton had refused to accept outcomes of previous investigations.

Shortly thereafter, acting municipal manager Johnny Douglas sent confirmation of the visit by the official from the public protector’s office.

“We have been bombarded with these allegations for years now and the auditor-general has given us four clean audits. Council and the administration has nothing to hide and any investigation is welcome,” Myers said.