Municipality to boost security in wake of death threats

ETHEKWINI Municipality plans to increase security at all its municipal offices after the hostage taking at Durban Solid Waste (DSW) in Springfield this week.

Death threats were also made against Auditor-general Kimi Makwetu’s staff.

City spokesperson Mandla Nsele said two men who only identified themselves as from a business forum from the north came to the DSW electron transfer station in Springfield Park looking for the acting head of cleansing and solid waste, Noluthando Magewu.

The men were allegedly armed.

“They had no appointment with the acting head, nor did they have a waste contract with the DSW. “They eventually closed off the front entrance of the building by confiscating keys,” said Nsele. “They alleged that they had not been paid for two months. Magewu explained government contracting regulations and processes with regard to payment of invoices to the men,” said Nsele.

He said in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act, as well as supply chain regulations, invoices were paid within a 30-day period, which was also applicable in this latest incident.

He said trauma counselling had been offered to affected staff.

Mayor Zandile Gumede said her office had “noticed that there have been numerous incidents of people coming to threaten officials”.

“We are strengthening our security as part of fighting criminals,” said Gumede who also apologised to residents of Umlazi and Chesterville for the disruption to DSW services this week.

A new disciplinary blacklisting committee had also been formed. She said the City Integrity and Investigations Unit had completed 326 investigations over the last financial year, exposing.