Handling of AG staff threats shocking

AS RATEPAYERS and citizens of Durban we are outraged that an official in the ethekwini Municipality has issued death threats to a staff member from the auditor-general’s (AG) office while she was conducting her work in the municipality.

But what is of greater concern is the attitude and action of mayor Zandile Gumede and the city manager.

Instead of immediately calling in the Hawks, arresting the perpetrator and locking him/ her in jail and throwing away the keys, they called a press briefing and stated that the city’s head of security would deal with the matter.

According to the AG’S 2016/17 annual report, irregular spending by municipalities has rocketed by 50% to R16 billion.

Two-thirds of the irregular municipal expenditure is a result of not complying with the procurement process regulations and the other third is because they simply don’t bother with a tender.

This is where we have state capture at local government level where the politically connected divert municipal resources to benefit themselves, their families and their friends. This has been going on for decades.

The fact that senior officials, especially in the supply chain management and procurement department were manipulating and inflating tender applications has resulted in higher prices, cronyism and higher rates and taxes that have to be paid by ordinary ratepayers.

The biggest threat to our country is financial mismanagement and corruption because this can lead to an uprising.

So any attempt to impede the work of the AG constitutes a threat to our democracy.

REKHA PREMSHAND

Phoenix