The DA today opened a criminal case with the Hawks to investigate alleged tender fraud of R831 100 in the Mamusa Local Municipality.
“Documents in our possession indicate that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr Vincent Masilo, who also serves as the Acting Municipal Manager, allegedly facilitated the purchase of 16 Mecer Xpress Executive MW10Q17+ tablets for R590 000. A single tablet retails between R3 000 and R4 000, but CFO Masilo allegedly paid R36 875 per device, inflated by 920%,” said CJ Steyl, DA North West Provincial Spokesperson: Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.
In addition, R163 782 was paid for 16 Microsoft Home and Business licenses at R9 099 each, while the average retail price is around R3 500.
“We are confident that the Hawks will investigate this alleged tender fraud in the same way the Kagisano-Molopo laptop scandal was investigated, which culminated in the arrest of Senior Manager, Mr Morufa Moloto and his partner, Letladi Ramoroka, for purchasing eight laptops to the value of R185 000. The matter is before the court.,” added Steyl.
The Mamusa Local Municipality’s Eskom debt exceeds R200 million, while service delivery is practically nonexistent. To launder R831 100 in this manner is an injustice to residents who suffer daily in a collapsed municipality without any quality basic service delivery.
“We will also engage COGHSTA MEC Oageng Molapisi to intervene tangibly within the administration of Mamusa,” said Steyl.
“It is alleged that illegal municipal appointments and tender fraud is rife in Mamusa since the 2021 local government elections, while battles for control of the Council between the EFF and the various ANC factions continue unabated to gain access to resources.”
A matter before court in the dispute of the removal of the previous Speaker, Lesego Motlapele, and Municipal Manager, Rantsho Gincane, in February this year at an alleged illegally constituted meeting brings into question not only the legality of the appointment of CFO Masilo to the position of Acting Municipal Manager, but also all subsequent Council decisions under the stewardship of the arguably illegally appointed current speaker, Cllr Gotsilekgosi Batsi.
It appears that the ANC’s 17% loss in national support in this year’s elections has failed to inspire the ANC in Mamusa to stop looting and scheming and to put residents first.
“Mamusa is a case study for what could happen in our province and country when factions of the ANC partner with the EFF,” said Steyl.
The DA added that remained resolute to prevent a doomsday pact in the interest of residents, and we will continue to build where the EFF and ANC continue to break and destroy.
