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City Press reports that six years after spending more than R16 million of taxpayers’ money to acquire 10 buses for the city’s rapid transit system, Polokwane local municipality in Limpopo has not received the vehicles.
In 2019, the municipality paid a service provider R1.6 million each for 10 buses that were never delivered. This has raised serious concerns about corruption, maladministration and collusion between the service provider and senior municipal officials. It was only when Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke discovered the rot that the municipality was forced to act. In 2022, Maluleke’s office declared the municipality’s noncompliance in recovering the money as material irregularities. The AG recommended that the municipality implement consequence management against the implicated officials. But, despite these recommendations, the municipality has yet to take action against them. Maluleke has expressed shock to learn that the implicated officials are still employed by the municipality.
The municipality defended itself, saying that two unidentified officials were undergoing a disciplinary hearing that commenced in November 2024. Charges against the implicated officials include gross negligence, contravention of the MFMA, contravention of SCM policies, gross dishonesty, and dereliction of duty. Municipality spokesperson Thipa Selala confirmed that two of the implicated officials remained employed. He said that the municipality was addressing the issue through the courts.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Norman Masungwini & Sipho Mabena at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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