OR TAMBO mayor Nomakhosazana Meth has gone on the offensive attacking cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa for instituting a probe against her without following proper procedures., Meth rubbished the probe into her alleged misconduct.
She said Xasa’s team was conducting the investigation in a degrading and humiliating fashion. Meth wrote: “The contents of the letter are vague and embarrassing and without the necessary attachments.
“There are no names of who constitutes the team of investigation. The details of the allegations to be investigated are not clear.”
She wrote that investigators had “invaded” her office without introducing themselves. “The office of the executive mayor has been disregarded by the so-called investigators in that are carrying out the investigations in a suspicious, degrading and humiliating fashion.
“ are working closely with the office of the municipal manager/accounting officer, yet I hear in the corridors (that) they are investigating me.”
Meth said the conduct of the investigators raised a “strong suspicion” about their integrity, objectivity and bias. “Their method of investigation is grossly open to manipulation,” she wrote.
Meth said there was no evidence that the provisions of Section 106
3(a) and (b) of the Municipal Systems Act had been complied with.
The act states that when issuing a notice to a municipality to investigate maladministration, the MEC must make a written statement to the national council of provinces motivating such action.
Meth is being probed for alleged irregular staff appointments, using public funds for private use, credit card abuse and breaching a National Treasury circular on catering expenditure for the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela.
Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan had issued a circular warning government departments and municipalities against spending taxpayers’ money catering for events related to the funeral.
The municipality spent more than R400000 on catering and bottled water for the funeral. Vacuum flasks and blankets with Mandela’s face on it were also bought by Meth’s office during the same period.
OR Tambo IGR and communication officer Phendule Mbewu confirmed that Meth had received the letter informing her of the probe.
“The executive mayor welcomes any investigation that is conducted in any office of the municipality but the intention of any investigation should be to unveil the truth on any allegation and not to peddle lies through the media.
“ appeals for a fair, transparent and objective investigation in all respects to assist the MEC to achieve objectives of the investigation. She had not spoken to the investigating team as the team had neither been introduced to her nor wanted to speak to her since its arrival.
“All matters being investigated will be responded to as expected but not in the media,” wrote Mbewu.
The investigation has been halted by the department pending the written statement to the NCOP.
Cogta superintendent-general Stanley Khanyile could not be reached for comment. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
- Click on image to enlarge.
Mayor rubbishes ‘degrading’ probe into alleged misconduct
, Meth rubbished the probe into her alleged misconduct.
She said Xasa’s team was conducting the investigation in a degrading and humiliating fashion. Meth wrote: “The contents of the letter are vague and embarrassing and without the necessary attachments.
“There are no names of who constitutes the team of investigation. The details of the allegations to be investigated are not clear.”
She wrote that investigators had “invaded” her office without introducing themselves. “The office of the executive mayor has been disregarded by the so-called investigators in that are carrying out the investigations in a suspicious, degrading and humiliating fashion.
“ are working closely with the office of the municipal manager/accounting officer, yet I hear in the corridors (that) they are investigating me.”
Meth said the conduct of the investigators raised a “strong suspicion” about their integrity, objectivity and bias. “Their method of investigation is grossly open to manipulation,” she wrote.
Meth said there was no evidence that the provisions of Section 106
3(a) and (b) of the Municipal Systems Act had been complied with.
The act states that when issuing a notice to a municipality to investigate maladministration, the MEC must make a written statement to the national council of provinces motivating such action.
Meth is being probed for alleged irregular staff appointments, using public funds for private use, credit card abuse and breaching a National Treasury circular on catering expenditure for the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela.
Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan had issued a circular warning government departments and municipalities against spending taxpayers’ money catering for events related to the funeral.
The municipality spent more than R400000 on catering and bottled water for the funeral. Vacuum flasks and blankets with Mandela’s face on it were also bought by Meth’s office during the same period.
OR Tambo IGR and communication officer Phendule Mbewu confirmed that Meth had received the letter informing her of the probe.
“The executive mayor welcomes any investigation that is conducted in any office of the municipality but the intention of any investigation should be to unveil the truth on any allegation and not to peddle lies through the media.
“ appeals for a fair, transparent and objective investigation in all respects to assist the MEC to achieve objectives of the investigation. She had not spoken to the investigating team as the team had neither been introduced to her nor wanted to speak to her since its arrival.
“All matters being investigated will be responded to as expected but not in the media,” wrote Mbewu.
The investigation has been halted by the department pending the written statement to the NCOP.
Cogta superintendent-general Stanley Khanyile could not be reached for comment. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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