EFF wants answers from mayor over Jack’s business deal
Odendaal set to reply in next council session
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Retief Odendaal will have to answer in council whether he knew deputy mayor Khusta Jack was doing business with the municipality after the EFF accused him of not acting on an auditor-general’s report.
The EFF submitted a list of questions to the speaker’s office for Odendaal to answer at the next council meeting, which is scheduled to sit on Tuesday.
Jack landed in hot water earlier this month when it came to light that he had been informed by city manager Noxolo Nqwazi that one of his companies had been awarded an informal tender.
He has maintained his innocence, saying he was unaware of the contract and declared it as soon as he found out.
In the questions submitted in terms of council rule 25, the EFF has asked Odendaal:
● On which date did you, as mayor, become aware that the companies linked to the deputy mayor benefited from the municipality through work that was given?
● On which date did you become aware of the auditor-general’s findings regarding companies linked to the deputy mayor?
● Do you agree that the deputy mayor only declared his interests to council after companies linked to him had already benefited?
● According to the auditorgeneral’s report, were companies linked to the deputy mayor truthful in their declaration?
● If companies linked to the deputy mayor submitted false declarations, would this not be considered fraudulent? and
● Are you aware that according to chapter 2 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 2004, you are obligated to act immediately upon knowing of any corrupt or fraudulent activity?
EFF councillor Khanya Ngqisha said the party believed Odendaal had sat on the AG’s finding.
“The mayor chose to sit and do nothing to provide political protection for the deputy mayor,” Ngqisha said.
“Those found guilty of such and those found to be protecting those guilty must be exposed
and must be removed from office.”
Odendaal said he was aware of the questions and would answer accordingly at the next council meeting.
Jack, meanwhile, has accused the EFF of playing politics to the public gallery.
Referring to council rules, Jack said the issue should first have been directed to the rules and ethics committee which would provide documented evidence of any alleged wrongdoing.
“This matter was raised in a council meeting by the ANC and has subsequently been picked up with vigour by the EFF,” Jack said.
“Unfortunately, the parties that are accusing me of wrongdoing have seemingly decided to undermine the processes of the very council they serve on.
“They want to run ahead with a public trial in which they are making false and defamatory allegations against me.”
Earlier this month, the EFF held a media conference at which they called on Jack to resign.
“I am waiting for the council to start its investigation and I will make available to the ethics committee documentary evidence that at no stage in this matter was I in breach of the code of conduct,” Jack said.
“I declared all my private business interests in the time frame specified, and I have done everything by the book.
“I trust those who seek to tarnish my name with malicious public statements will find it within themselves to issue a public apology when I am exonerated by the ethics committee.”