DA wants Hawks to probe ‘drain heist’
The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay wants the Hawks to investigate the R21m paid to SMMEs in the metro after several business owners complained that they had not been paid.
This comes after a Facebook post showing an SMME forum leader and his daughter flashing a large stack of money sparked a protest outside the city hall on Monday.
Speaking at a media conference at the party’s regional headquarters, DA Eastern Cape leader and councillor Nqaba Bhanga labelled the R21m paid to SMMEs a “drain heist” and said it was just a way for the new coalition to steal.
“R21m robbed from the municipality and the money [allegedly] did not even go to SMMEs as promised. It went to certain people.
“SMMEs are now toyi-toying and want to see the master list where all the names of the SMMEs were listed,” he said.
On Monday, forum convener Baba Ningi and co-ordinator Lithemba Singaphi vehemently denied allegations that they had paid themselves R2m each and instead said their companies were paid R28,000 and R13,000, respectively.
In December, the council approved the allocation of work packages to 600 SMMEs, but that number increased following council’s approval.
Both Singaphi and Ningi said some of the SMME owners complaining about not being paid had not participated in cleaning the drains.
Bay mayor Mongameli Bobani said the DA was welcome to approach the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies as the city had complied with all legal processes.
He said it was not surprising that the DA had called a media conference after reports of disgruntled SMME owners.
“They must not call press conferences but rather run to the Hawks. But we as a government trust our law enforcement agencies,” Bobani said.