Tender deviation probe near completion

The Buffalo City Metro municipal public accounts committee (Mpac) is expected to finalise its probe into the flouting of processes by officials after a deviation in expenditure went through in June without proper approval.

According to a memorandum penned by Mpac chair Zameka Kodwa-Gajula and sent to city manager Andile Sihlahla, the report was meant to be tabled before council on September 26.

It will now be tabled in October after the September 26 meeting was postponed.

The report is the result of a mandate to Kodwa-Gajula’s committee to probe the deviation.

This will not be the first hardhitting report by the committee pointing a finger at the Sihlahla-led administration for maladministration.

In June Mpac tabled a report that found Sihlahla was guilty of non-compliance and it recommended that steps be taken against him.

The council then referred the report to executive mayor Xola Pakati to take action with an investigation. It is not clear whether Pakati has yet completed the investigation, as he asked for more time during last month’s council meeting.

The latest report comes after Daily Dispatch exposé that revealed how a R175,000 contract for stocktaking was awarded to an audit firm, and payments were made without a deviation being approved.

BCM head of governance and internal auditing Busi Msauli was suspended last week.

She was among the senior officials who signed the request for the deviation that is now subject to an investigation.

In the exposé, the Dispatch also uncovered that Msauli was a former Raymond Mhlaba Municipality internal audit manager, and during the BCM stock taking programme two Raymond Mhlaba employees were roped in to assist.

The go-ahead for the deviation was signed by Sihlahla – days after the work was completed.

At a council meeting in August councillors rejected an attempt by Sihlahla to have the deviation noted.

Several councillors raised major concerns on how the maladministration went through.

The council also directed Mpac to probe the deviation.

Subsequent to receiving minutes of the council meeting, the committee chair wrote to Sihlahla asking him to provide details and information on events leading up to the flouting of the processes.

In a letter seen by the Dispatch dated September 11, Gajula requests Sihlahla to provide a copy of the approved deviation, signed and approved requisition, the three quotations which were supposed to be obtained, and documentation on payments, among other things.

Attempts to get comment from Msauli were not successful.

BCM spokesman Samkelo Ngwenya said the municipality was not in a position to comment on the matters raised relating to Msauli, based on employer-employee relations.

Sihlahla was found guilty of non-compliance and it was recommended that steps be taken against him