Alfred Nzo in bid to tackle irregular expenditure

ALFRED NZO district municipal bosses have commissioned a forensic investigation into irregular expenditure amounting to about R500-million.

In June this year, the Daily Dispatch published a report revealing that the district authority was identified as one of the serial irregular spenders in the country by auditor general Kimi Makwetu, with O R Tambo at the top of that list.

Alfred Nzo was among the top 10 offenders in the country together with three other Eastern Cape municipalities.

A R34-million water supply scheme tender in Matatiele was said to be among several contracts the Alfred Nzo council would have to investigate according to the AG.

The tender was reportedly not advertised while the contractor appointed did not even have a tax clearance certificate.

However, municipal bosses in Alfred Nzo have taken the first step towards addressing their shortcomings by instituting a forensic investigation into the huge irregular bill.

This was confirmed by the authority’s newly appointed municipal manager, Zamile Sikhundla. He has been acting in the position for the past two years.

“There were a lot of discrepancies on our annual audits in the past which we are trying to polish now,” he said.

“It will give us an indication of how we incurred the irregular expenditure – and if there is anyone who should be charged, then we will do that.”