Rescind Section 106 report – CFO

SOL PLAATJE chief financial officer (CFO) Lydia Mahloko gave the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) until yesterday to rescind the Section 106 investigation report on irregularities at Sol Plaatje Municipality.

Mahloko is disputing the recommendations of the report, which advises that criminal charges should be laid against her.

She stated that if the department failed to withdraw the findings within 48 hours, which ended yesterday, she would approach the court for the report to be set aside.

Spokesperson for Coghsta Lerato Khunou yesterday indicated that the department’s legal team was currently studying the contents of the letter.

“The department has not provided any replying affidavits as no court papers have been served.”

She added that the Section 106 report was a legislative process that had to be implemented by Sol Plaatje Municipality. “The council must discuss the report and act on its recommendations in order to bring finality to the matter at hand.”

Mahloko has denied being involved in any act of misconduct or corruption and indicated that she wished to clear her name in court.

The investigation advised that both Mahloko and the municipal manager, Goolam Akharwaray, be subjected to lifestyle audits and ordered that all capital projects dating back to 2016, in which the CFO was involved, be investigated for non-compliance with supply chain management processes.

It stated that Akharwaray should be disciplined for failing to take action against Mahloko and that he should pay back a scarce skills allowance of R188 558.

Akharaway had last week indicated that he would also be undertaking legal steps as he believed that the report was illegal.