ANC guns for Msimanga

The opposition in Tshwane, the ANC, on Wednesday said it had submitted to the City Council an urgent motion of no confidence against mayor Solly Msimanga following controversial appointments and a multibillion-rand scandal rocking the capital city.

“The motion is to be tabled at the council meeting scheduled for August 30. The urgency arises as a result of a special council meeting on August 22,” ANC Tshwane chairperson Kgoshi Maepa told media in Pretoria.

“It is clear from the report presented by the executive mayor at the latter special council meeting that he had, in fact, known about the alleged irregularities associated with the multibillion-rand EPMU [Enterprise Project Management Unit] in the office of the city manager.

“The pertinent issue is that from November 2017 to July 2018, the executive mayor knew about the corruption scandal and even after supply chain reports were presented to him during that period, he didn’t inform council about the matter. The executive mayor, Mr Solly ‘I don’t know, I am not sure’ Msimanga has neglected an important aspect of due skill and care in providing oversight to the executive as expected by council.”

The ANC is appealing to other political parties in the Tshwane council to join hands with the former governing party and oust the DA’s Msimanga.

“We also propose that voting be done via a secret ballot. It is our ethical and moral duty to protect resources of the local state and become honest stewards of public funds,” said Maepa.

As the tender scandal deepens, this week Msimanga asked council to suspend embattled city manager Moeketsi Mosola and other senior municipal officials.

“After due consideration I am referring the allegations of tender irregularities to council, specifically to investigate allegations of serious misconduct levelled against senior officials in accordance with the disciplinary regulations for senior managers in the Municipal Systems Act,” he said.

Msimanga said after being appraised by the accused officials, he has resolved an independent investigation authorised by the council as the best way to establish the facts into allegations of irregularity by the city’s officials.

“Under my leadership, the City of Tshwane has taken a number of multibillion contracts, emanating from the city’s supply chain management system, on review,” said Msimanga.

Mosola came under fire following media reports alleging that Ariya Project Managers’ GladAfrica Group was bleeding the capital city dry, after being awarded infrastructure projects worth about R12 billion, without following procedures.

GladAfrica reportedly made another R250 million in consultancy fees from Tshwane’s roads and transport division in the past six months.