‘Voice-recorded’ bribery scandal rocks council

An incriminating voice recording of Enoch Mgijima community services director has emerged adding to allegations

A top municipal director allegedly offered a R50,000 bribe to a councillor to ensure she retained her job after MEC for Cogta Xolile Nqatha wrote to council indicating her appointment was irregular.

A voice recording has emerged of Enoch Mgijima community services director Linda Bolani allegedly offering United Front councillor Aaron Mhlontlo money to get rid of a resolution taken in July last year by the council, to set aside Bolani’s “irregular” appointment.

A letter from corporate governance and traditional affairs MEC Nqatha sent to the municipality last year in January said Bolani did not meet the minimum requirements for higher education qualification, work experience and knowledge required for the job.

The recording was made last year in September.

Last month ANC councillor Papama Madubedube submitted a motion against Mhlontlo related to the alleged bribe, indicating he broke the code of conduct for councillors and recommending that council institute an investigation and the matter be reported to Cogta and the office of the premier.

“Mhlontlo’s actions insinuate that he calls the shots at council,” Madubedube said.

“He gives the impression that he is bigger than the Enoch Mgijima council. He states in his own words that he will shift the focus from Bolani and target politicians with an unknown report.”

On April 4 Mhlontlo wrote a letter of complaint to Enoch Mgijima mayor Luleka Gubula, in which he said Bolani had initiated the bribery conversation to get rid of a resolution that set aside her appointment.

Mhlontlo also alleged that Bolani offered him sexual favours to ensure the resolution disappeared.

“Madubedube submitted the motion to counter the formal complaint I laid against Bolani,” he said. “The mayor has bluffed with an acknowledgment letter just two days before the ordinary council meeting on April 30.

“The inconsistency by council speaker Bongiwe van Heerden of allowing this motion to be discussed while two others against Madubedube and another councillor were just noted was quite evident.”

Bolani refuted that she had initiated the bribery, asking why she would record a conversation that implicated her.

“Another thing is that I have not received anything from my employer saying I should vacate my position.

“The office of the MEC for Cogta has even taken me to court over my appointment and in the next appearance I will ask why is he inconsistent when it came to the concurrence of employment.

“MEC Nqatha approved the appointment of a former Chris Hani Municipality councillor who now occupies the same position as me in Engcobo Municipality.

“That person only has a diploma and I have a degree and have been a municipal official since 2010. I will not take this lying down,” said an emotional Bolani.

“Let us clear the resolution to ensure it does not exist. I have already calculated 1% of my five-year contract, I can arrange to give you R50,000,” Bolani is alleged to have said in the recording.

“However, I want to be safe and confident in what I am paying for so that it does not come back to haunt me.

“Even if I have to go to the bank and lend money as though I want it for household I’ll do so as long as this will be permanently cleared.”