The damning final forensic report on the shocking state of Makana Municipality will finally be released to the public and at least some of those implicated may soon find their heads on the chopping block.
The report, drafted by auditing firm Kabuso, was kept secret last year and reportedly alleged several serious irregularities, including irregular payments and appointments of senior officials.
It implicated senior ANC leaders, councillors and officials in wrongdoing. Mayor Zamuxolo Peter and Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac were among those named.
None of the allegations have been tested in a court of law or in disciplinary hearings, mainly because the council has sat on the report for so long.
Last year Makana administrator Pam Yako indicated that the report had only been in draft form and would be finalised in February. She confirmed to the Dispatch it was finally tabled late last month after the auditing firm Kabuso had returned to the city to finalise its investigations and the report.
It was considered and adopted by the council this week, she confirmed.
“Yes it was adopted. They also resolved to make it public,” said Yako.
Mandisi Planga, who was the acting municipal manager at the time, commissioned Kabuso to conduct the independent forensic investigation following the disappearance of former municipal manager Pravine Naidoo’s personnel information and the payment of some R108000 towards Naidoo’s legal fees.
At the time, there had been a bizarre proposal to pay Naidoo out some R3-million in damages, despite Naidoo previously losing his damages claim against Makana in court. The broke municipality also paid his legal fees despite the court ruling that Naidoo pay his own and the municipality’s legal costs.
Naidoo was later fired but Kabuso began digging into the deal as well as other irregularities. Then strategic municipal manager Mncedisi Boma and Madinda-Isaac were said to have been central to the decisions around the deal.
Yako did not say when the Dispatch could have a copy of the adopted report.
Civil society organisations and political parties have welcomed the imminent release of the report.
The Democratic Alliance said heads would have to roll.
“The release of the Kabuso Report by the Makana council is a tremendous victory for transparency and accountability,” said DA MP Andrew Whitfield.
He charged that the report had remained hidden in an attempt to protect corrupt officials and politicians who had been implicated.
“Among those fingered in the report are the mayor, Zamuxolo Peter and the speaker of council, Rachel Madinda, whom the DA have repeatedly called to be axed.”
Head of watchdog organisation, the Public Service Accountability Monitor, (PSAM) Jay Kruuse said the decision to release it was welcome.
Prof Owen Skae of the Makana Unity League – which also forms part of the Makana Civil Society Coalition – also welcomed the belated release of the report.
“We hope now that it will be released as soon as possible and acted upon. “
The status of the provincial government’s intervention into the administration of Makana remains unclear.
The select committee on cooperative governance earlier this month said in a report tabled in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that procedural and substantive requirements had not been met in the implementation of the intervention and that it was therefore invalid.
Yako, who was appointed in terms of the intervention, this week said the status of the intervention was being looked at by both Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa and Cogta Minister Pravin Gordhan.
“I am awaiting word on the final verdict and the legal implications thereof.”
Makana council set to lift lid on Kabuso
The report, drafted by auditing firm Kabuso, was kept secret last year and reportedly alleged several serious irregularities, including irregular payments and appointments of senior officials.
It implicated senior ANC leaders, councillors and officials in wrongdoing. Mayor Zamuxolo Peter and Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac were among those named.
None of the allegations have been tested in a court of law or in disciplinary hearings, mainly because the council has sat on the report for so long.
Last year Makana administrator Pam Yako indicated that the report had only been in draft form and would be finalised in February. She confirmed to the Dispatch it was finally tabled late last month after the auditing firm Kabuso had returned to the city to finalise its investigations and the report.
It was considered and adopted by the council this week, she confirmed.
“Yes it was adopted. They also resolved to make it public,” said Yako.
Mandisi Planga, who was the acting municipal manager at the time, commissioned Kabuso to conduct the independent forensic investigation following the disappearance of former municipal manager Pravine Naidoo’s personnel information and the payment of some R108000 towards Naidoo’s legal fees.
At the time, there had been a bizarre proposal to pay Naidoo out some R3-million in damages, despite Naidoo previously losing his damages claim against Makana in court. The broke municipality also paid his legal fees despite the court ruling that Naidoo pay his own and the municipality’s legal costs.
Naidoo was later fired but Kabuso began digging into the deal as well as other irregularities. Then strategic municipal manager Mncedisi Boma and Madinda-Isaac were said to have been central to the decisions around the deal.
Yako did not say when the Dispatch could have a copy of the adopted report.
Civil society organisations and political parties have welcomed the imminent release of the report.
The Democratic Alliance said heads would have to roll.
“The release of the Kabuso Report by the Makana council is a tremendous victory for transparency and accountability,” said DA MP Andrew Whitfield.
He charged that the report had remained hidden in an attempt to protect corrupt officials and politicians who had been implicated.
“Among those fingered in the report are the mayor, Zamuxolo Peter and the speaker of council, Rachel Madinda, whom the DA have repeatedly called to be axed.”
Head of watchdog organisation, the Public Service Accountability Monitor, (PSAM) Jay Kruuse said the decision to release it was welcome.
Prof Owen Skae of the Makana Unity League – which also forms part of the Makana Civil Society Coalition – also welcomed the belated release of the report.
“We hope now that it will be released as soon as possible and acted upon. “
The status of the provincial government’s intervention into the administration of Makana remains unclear.
The select committee on cooperative governance earlier this month said in a report tabled in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that procedural and substantive requirements had not been met in the implementation of the intervention and that it was therefore invalid.
Yako, who was appointed in terms of the intervention, this week said the status of the intervention was being looked at by both Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa and Cogta Minister Pravin Gordhan.
“I am awaiting word on the final verdict and the legal implications thereof.”
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