Mnquma spending priorities come under fire
TROUBLED Mnquma local municipality spent R1-million on catering in the space of six months and during the same period R1.1-million was spent on hiring vehicles.
The council spent R353 000 on a Mandela Day event held in July last year, where R51 900 was used to buy chicken portions from KFC.
Motivating for the deviations to buy the KFC meals, an official responded in a municipal report: “KFC is the only shop that specialises with [sic] Kentucky fried chicken.”
Meanwhile, the municipal manager, Sindile Tantsi, who was recently arrested on allegations of fraud, corruption and money laundering, bought his office a presidentialoffice desk worth R56 675.
All this is contained in a report to the mayoral committee prepared by the budget and treasury office in the municipality.
Between July and December 2016, the municipality has received more than R200-million in grants from:
Municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) of R59-million;
Minerals and Energy (R5million); and
Equitable million). share (R166-
The report was intended for the council meeting on Thursday but Saturday Dispatch could not confirm if the meeting was held.
“This municipality fails to deliver services to people, mostly those in rural areas, but they can afford to buy KFC for R50 000 for a day’s event,” said one source working for the municipality, who did not want to be named.
On the R1-million catering money, a further R51 000 was spent on food platters while R40 000 was spent on food for an awareness campaign.
A further R5 610 was spent on one night to buy food for employees who were working overtime.
In the same document, a service provider charged the municipality R30 000 to transport councillors to Mpekweni resort near the Fish River mouth, while a second service provider charged R80 500 for the same destination, which the municipality paid.
In the same period, a further R300 000 was spent on a councillor induction event, while R105-million was spent on salaries, including bonuses.
The municipality and two others – Ngcobo and O R Tambo district municipality – are being investigated by the Hawks for fraud and corruption.
Tantsi was arrested last week and appeared in court this week.
He is facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering and was released on R40 000 bail.
He was arrested together with Big Event Boy (Pty) Ltd company director Sive Nombembe. They are both scheduled to reappear in the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on March 27.
Their arrests are related to a black refuse bag tender worth R10-million.
But Saturday Dispatch sources within the municipality said more people needed to be arrested and charged.
“Tantsi cannot be the only victim. Also, how do you begin to explain the payment of two different amounts for the same trip to Mpekweni a few days apart? Heads must roll,” said a source who also did not want to be named.
“The Hawks should not be pushed. They must close this municipality if they have to,” said a source.
Last week the Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said their task team formed to investigate Mnquma would not leave anything unattended to.
Mnquma local municipality mayor Thobeka Bikitsha and spokesman Loyiso Mpalantshane could not be reached for comment at the time of writing. — bonganif@dispatch.