The public protector has summoned municipal managers and chief financial officers of King Sabata Dalindyebo local municipality, OR Tambo district municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Metro for interviews in the Nelson Mandela funeral investigation.
All three entities spent millions before and after the funeral. KSD spent R21-million, including on transporting people to public mourning areas.
Although not many people showed up at the mourning areas, R2.4-million was spent on catering alone.
Most of the food delivered included a polony and cheese sandwich, an apple and juice. Some funds were spent buying brooms, toilet paper and soap. One company was paid more than R78000 to supply golf shirts, while another was paid more than R1-million to supply banners, flags and T-shirts.
Some of the goods paid for were only delivered after the funeral, including T-shirts which were later delivered to council speaker Dumani Zozo’s office. Another company was paid R300000 to deliver flags.
Early last year the administrative arm of KSD presented a report to council, asking that the R21-million expenditure be condoned. Council was divided, with opposition seeking a probe into the expenditure.
Acting municipal manager Nobuzwe Soldati yesterday confirmed receiving the letter from the public protector, but could not give more details.
Soldati is temporarily filling the position left by then municipal manager Zizamele Mnqanqeni.
The OR Tambo municipality on the other hand spent about R9-million for the funeral.
Some of the funds were used to buy a generator, food, bottled water, vacuum flasks and blankets.
It had also been alleged that some senior politicians dined at an expensive restaurant in Mthatha at the municipality’s expense.
OR Tambo’s acting municipal manager Andiswa Dunywa confirmed yesterday that she had received the letter.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro spent more than R6-million for the provincial memorial service, much of which was spent on hiring the stadium for the event.
Some funds were used to buy T-shirts and a banner for the ANC women’s league. The total cost of the T-shirts was R1.8-million.
The information is contained in a spreadsheet presented and approved in council. More funds were used to repair CCTV cameras – this cost more than R700000. Newspaper adverts cost R214898.41, loud hailers cost more than R200000.
Bay metro spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki had not responded to e-mailed questions at the time of writing.
The six officials will follow BCM and provincial officials, who have also been called to provide answers in the Mandela funeral scandal.
Public protector spokesman Oupa Segalwe could not give any information when contacted by the Daily Dispatch yesterday.
“Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss details of the investigation. All I can say is that the matter is ongoing, the target being to wrap it up by the end of the month.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Public protector to grill municipal bosses
All three entities spent millions before and after the funeral. KSD spent R21-million, including on transporting people to public mourning areas.
Although not many people showed up at the mourning areas, R2.4-million was spent on catering alone.
Most of the food delivered included a polony and cheese sandwich, an apple and juice. Some funds were spent buying brooms, toilet paper and soap. One company was paid more than R78000 to supply golf shirts, while another was paid more than R1-million to supply banners, flags and T-shirts.
Some of the goods paid for were only delivered after the funeral, including T-shirts which were later delivered to council speaker Dumani Zozo’s office. Another company was paid R300000 to deliver flags.
Early last year the administrative arm of KSD presented a report to council, asking that the R21-million expenditure be condoned. Council was divided, with opposition seeking a probe into the expenditure.
Acting municipal manager Nobuzwe Soldati yesterday confirmed receiving the letter from the public protector, but could not give more details.
Soldati is temporarily filling the position left by then municipal manager Zizamele Mnqanqeni.
The OR Tambo municipality on the other hand spent about R9-million for the funeral.
Some of the funds were used to buy a generator, food, bottled water, vacuum flasks and blankets.
It had also been alleged that some senior politicians dined at an expensive restaurant in Mthatha at the municipality’s expense.
OR Tambo’s acting municipal manager Andiswa Dunywa confirmed yesterday that she had received the letter.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro spent more than R6-million for the provincial memorial service, much of which was spent on hiring the stadium for the event.
Some funds were used to buy T-shirts and a banner for the ANC women’s league. The total cost of the T-shirts was R1.8-million.
The information is contained in a spreadsheet presented and approved in council. More funds were used to repair CCTV cameras – this cost more than R700000. Newspaper adverts cost R214898.41, loud hailers cost more than R200000.
Bay metro spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki had not responded to e-mailed questions at the time of writing.
The six officials will follow BCM and provincial officials, who have also been called to provide answers in the Mandela funeral scandal.
Public protector spokesman Oupa Segalwe could not give any information when contacted by the Daily Dispatch yesterday.
“Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to discuss details of the investigation. All I can say is that the matter is ongoing, the target being to wrap it up by the end of the month.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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