KPA opens case over R1.9m EMLM payment

Organistion calls for police, Hawks to investigate corruption, fraud

Members of Komani Progress Action (KPA), formerly known as Komani Protest Action, protested outside the Komani police station on Tuesday and requested that a case be opened regarding the R1.9m fraud case which they claim has been neglected by Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM).

In June, the municipality announced that R1.9m was transferred from its ICT department to a bogus Microsoft account.

Though the municipality had stated that a case would be opened with the police, the KPA said it later emerged that this had not happened, and neither did the Hawks have any knowledge of the case.

KPA leader Axolile Masiza said members of the organisation had spoken to police officials at the station, who had no knowledge of a case having been opened.

Masiza said KPA had also spoken with Hawks officials on a different occasion, who also had no knowledge of it.

“We are at the Komani Police Station to report the theft of R1.9m from the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.

“This money was allegedly stolen by someone who had access to the municipality’s ICT department.

“EMLM spoke about strengthening the ICT department, but the mayor Madoda Papiyana has not said anything about opening a criminal case of theft to be investigated,” he said.

“We are concerned that the residents of Enoch Mgijima are not getting the answers they deserve.

“We know the mayor is hiding information from the public,” he said.

Masiza said KPA was also following up on other cases involving the municipality, including that of the town hall and another municipal building which caught fire, which had to be investigated.

“The case [town hall] was ultimately closed without further investigation.

“There is also no public record of a case being opened in connection with the reported theft of the fleet in Whittlesea.

“We are here to investigate these incidents and reopen any cases that were previously closed.”

Masiza said if the police were unable to properly investigate these incidents, KPA would then follow-up with the Hawks.

When talking to police minister Bheki Cele while he was in Komani, Masiza said the minister had said he would ensure that the Hawks

We are also following other cases such as that of the town hall burning

delivered.

“Cele has an important role to play in addressing the high levels of crime and corruption in Komani,” he said.

“We need him to take action and demand accountability from the local authorities.

“The people of Komani deserve to know what happened to the R1.9m that was transferred to a bogus Microsoft account, and how this could have happened,” Masiza said.

Queenstown police spokesperson Captain Namhla Mdleleni said the Hawks were responsible for investigating the fraud case.

The Hawks had not responded to The Rep’s questions by the time of going to print.