United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa urged the Eastern Cape government on Monday to act against the mayor of the OR Tambo district municipality, whom he accused of corruption.
Holomisa, in an open letter to the province’s housing, local government and traditional affairs MEC Gugile Nkwinti, said the irregularities he alleged had been confirmed in a report by the Auditor General.
He said he would make the report public in the course of the day as the MEC has had it in his possession since April last year and had apparently taken no action.
”On May 9, 2001, you appointed the Auditor General’s office to perform a special investigation into alleged irregularities at OR Tambo District Municipality. The period under review was limited to 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 financial years,” he said in the letter.
Holomisa said the report found numerous irregularities involving the municipality’s executive mayor, including her having the use of a municipal house while also receiving a housing allowance and using an official vehicle and driver for personal travel while receiving a travelling allowance.
”The findings and the recommendations of this report clearly indicate that the finances of the municipality have become unsound and it has suffered serious financial losses,” Holomisa added.
He said the MEC should now invoke the Local Government Transitional Act and instruct the council to ensure that the recommendations are enforced and the financial practices of the municipality are improved immediately.
”In the meantime the UDM strongly recommends that this mayor should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of this process. The Scorpions should also be invited to do their job, especially where an amount of R1-million has been reported to be unaccounted for,” Holomisa stressed. – Sapa