‘Ex-mayor wanted R15m for Mandela memorial’
Former CFO gives evidence in court
Former chief financial officer (CFO) of the Eastern Cape’s Buffalo City municipality, Vincent Pillay, has described the steps followed in providing funding for Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in December 2013.
Pillay was testifying yesterday in the Bhisho high court trial of former ANC regional chair Pumlani Mkolo and former Buffalo City mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, former deputy mayor Themba Tinta, former speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, former councillor Sindiswa Gomba, former supply chain manager Thembelani Sali, Ondela Mahlangu, Viwe Vazi, Nosiphiwo Mati and Nqaba Ludidi.
They are accused of pocketing some R10m of the municipality funds intended for Mandela’s memorial service, after the former president’s death on December 5. All have pleaded not guilty.
Pillay joined the metro in 2005 and became the CFO in March 2013. He said he had received a text message from Ncitha on December 9 2013 saying she wanted to get hold of then city manager Andile Fani. Fani asked Pillay to accompany him to the mayor’s chamber.
Ncitha said she was looking for R15m towards Mandela’s service. She did not explain how she came up with that figure. “That is when Mr Fani asked her how the money would be spent. She said we must proceed to the offices of the ANC [regional office], where we would get a copy of the itinerary.
“Mr Fani said it was impossible to make R15m available.
He said he would try to identify R10m from savings.
“When I instructed my budget and treasurer manager to look for funding, he identified savings from the equitable share grant, an unconditional grant received from the National Treasury.
“When we arrived [at the ANC regional office], … the secretary of the ANC, Mr Mkolo, … handed over the itinerary, and indicated that R10m would be sufficient.
“At that time I didn’t have any knowledge of the ANC’s contribution. We left…
“Though the mayor in terms of section 29 of the MFMA (Municipal Finance Management Act No. 56 of 2003) has powers to approve unforeseen expenditure, Mr Fani was adamant that the report go to council to approve the budget.
“Documents were prepared for the funding to be transferred to the office of the executive mayor.”
The council approved the funding on December 11.
When asked why the request for funding only specified transport of citizens and the venue of the service, Pillay said that was because a circular from the National Treasury stipulated what the money must be used for.
Pillay said Mahlangu had been uncomfortable signing the deviation report on December 12, but had done so later the same day.
He said on December 13, his PA introduced him to Mzwandile Sokwali, who had brought an invoice to hand over to the finance unit.
He told his PA to send a copy to executive services and to the finance unit. He said he had not peruse the invoice. It was eventually paid. Pillay will continue with his evidence-inchief today.