JUSTIN ARENSTEIN, Nelspruit | Wednesday
THE Madhlopa Commission has uncovered another web of corruption in Mpumalanga, finding that the province’s powerful Highveld District Council chief executive Charles Makola irregularly awarded multi-million rand tenders to politicians and friends and intimidated those who threatened to expose him.
He also got his job using two fraudulent drivers’ licences and used tax funds to sue anyone who questioned his actions. When government finally investigated him in February, Makola repeatedly misled or lied to the commission and its investigators, commission chairman Sipho Madhlopa said in his 127-page report.
Madhlopa added that the abuses appeared to have been politically motivated and eventually cost the State at least R1,5m in just one irregular tender to provide water reticulation systems in the impoverished Tweefontein and Witfontein villages in Moutse.
The tender was awarded to Matrob CC, a shell company owned by HDC chairman Robert Matseke. It was unable to do the job, but spent the R1,5m paid to it before the council was eventually forced to intervene and do the work itself, at extra expense.
Matseke is one of five elected African National Congress (ANC) politicians accused of operating shell companies designed to win government construction and water infrastructure tenders.
Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu accepted Madhlopa’s findings and recommendations, but told a media briefing that Makola was still at the helm of the HDC and would not be suspended or fired until the conclusion of planned internal disciplinary action for misconduct.
Mahlangu stressed, however, that the commission report and evidence would be handed to police for possible criminal fraud and theft charges.
Makola’s dud licences were detected by HDC’s insurance company, which refused to pay for accident damage to Makola’s official car after realising that he had lied.
Madhlopa also accused Makola of failing to implement Strategic Fuel Fund levies and called for a complete forensic audit of the HDC to detect other potential losses.
The HDC is one of four district councils in Mpumalanga tasked with governing and developing the tribal, rural and peri-urban areas that make up much of Mpumalanga and the former homeland areas of KaNgwane and KwaNdebele. – African Eye News Service