INLSA
Nomusa Dube
There was a strong feeling within the ANC caucus in the eThekwini metro yesterday that the 10 councillors implicated in the Manase probe into the financial affairs of the city should be dealt with “severely”, including being suspended from the council.
This emerged from ANC councillors, who spoke to The Mercury following the release of the Manase report on Tuesday.
The report of the probe, instituted by Co-operative Governance MEC Nomusa Dube, pointed to, among other things, failure by former municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe to report fraud and corruption to the police, and that former mayor Obed Mlaba had irregularly interfered in the awarding of a tender
It also found that at least 10 councillors, including some from the ANC, were doing business with the municipality in contravention of the code of conduct for councillors.
Several ANC councillors, who spoke to The Mercury on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, said feelings within the party’s caucus and across the political spectrum in the council were that the councillors named in the report should be suspended.
Battling
“The ANC in eThekwini is caught in a tight situation. The party is battling to handle the issue properly, but it cannot be swept under the carpet given that it has already attracted national attention,” a senior ANC councillor said.
Another councillor said that Mlaba and Sutcliffe had initially handled the issue of fraud and corruption in the municipality by appointing auditors Ngubane and Company to conduct an investigation. But Dube ordered a further investigation into the matter.
ANC councillors expressed satisfaction that the Manase probe had been thorough and balanced – with adverse findings against both senior ANC councillors and senior municipal officials.
“We will have a caucus this week to see how we move forward,” said a councillor.
University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said the release of the report weeks before the ANC’s eThekwini regional conference, where key positions would come up for grabs, was significant.
The report would also impact negatively on the chances of those fingered over corruption to secure positions at the conference.
“On the other hand, it will strengthen the hand of those who want a clean administration and beef up their chances of being elected,” he said.
Ndlovu said the report was politically significant in that it reinforced the notion that there was a lot of corruption, particularly at municipal level.
“For the ANC, and especially President Jacob Zuma, it (the report) comes as the nation readies itself for his State of the Nation address.
Pressure
“It puts pressure on the president to be seen to be seriously addressing the issue of corruption.”
Other councillors declined to comment on the issue yesterday, saying that the ANC caucus had met and had mandated Mayor James Nxumalo to communicate their feelings on the issue.
Nxumalo addressed a media conference yesterday, and he committed the municipality to implement measures preventing a repeat of irregularities identified in the Manase report. 8P9
