Alfred Nzo under eye of SIU

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has signed a proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of fraud and corruption in Alfred Nzo District Municipality.

Presidency spokesman Dr Bongani Ngqulunga said the President had, in terms of section 2(1) of the Special Investigating Unit and Special Tribunals Act 1996, authorised the [SIU] to investigate certain matters in respect to the affairs of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality.

Ngqulunga said the proclamation authorised the SIU to investigate allegations of:

● Serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the district municipality;

● Improper or unlawful conduct by councillors, officials or employees of the district municipality;

● Unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property;

● Unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive act, transaction, measure or practice having a bearing upon state property;

● Intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property;

● Unlawful or improper conduct by any person, which had caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public or any category thereof; and

● Procurement of goods, works or services on behalf of the municipality and payments made in respect thereof in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent or cost effective.

In the 2014-15 financial year report, more than 50 items, including three water projects, the executive mayor’s new Mercedes-Benz worth about R1million and other items were financed through deviations.

The municipality spent R173-million on the projects without following normal supply chain processes.