Yesterday was D-day for troubled Buffalo City Metro municipal manager Andile Fani to explain why he should not be suspended.
This follows a council decision last week to give the go-ahead to BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi to write to Fani explaining why the mayor thought it important to suspend Fani while an independent investigator conducted a forensic investigation into a multimillion-rand housing contract and another for the provision of engineering services in Reeston.
The mayor’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi confirmed yesterday they were still awaiting Fani’s response to the mayor’s letter by end of business yesterday.
The reasons to charge Fani were contained in a memorandum Mtsi tabled at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
The confidential report, tabled in a closed session, revealed that a construction company had been paid more than R2-million with no approved budget.
The company billed the metro for more than R7-million, a claim which adds to the metro’s unauthorised and wasteful expenditure.
Council also wants Mtsi to investigate Fani’s conduct following a complaint from a senior manager accusing him of intimidation and harassment after Fani allegedly left a threatening voice message.
The Daily Dispatch reported on a voice message the SA Municipal Workers’ Union submitted as evidence for a case filed against Fani by Siyabulela Peter.
In the voice message, Fani claims job requirements had been downgraded to accommodate Peter.
The mayor’s letter of intention to suspend the accounting officer was delivered to Fani’s office last Wednesday.
The Dispatch understands that instead of responding to the letter, Fani’s lawyers wrote to Mtsi seeking clarity on some of the issues included in the mayor’s letter of intent to suspend which was delivered to Fani a week ago.
The mayor looks set to continue with the investigation as the municipality placed an advert on its website last Friday calling for a suitable service provider to conduct an investigation into an “internal matter of alleged financial misconduct and contravention of municipal finance management act”.
D-day for Fani as BCM mayor awaits response
This follows a council decision last week to give the go-ahead to BCM mayor Alfred Mtsi to write to Fani explaining why the mayor thought it important to suspend Fani while an independent investigator conducted a forensic investigation into a multimillion-rand housing contract and another for the provision of engineering services in Reeston.
The mayor’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi confirmed yesterday they were still awaiting Fani’s response to the mayor’s letter by end of business yesterday.
The reasons to charge Fani were contained in a memorandum Mtsi tabled at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
The confidential report, tabled in a closed session, revealed that a construction company had been paid more than R2-million with no approved budget.
The company billed the metro for more than R7-million, a claim which adds to the metro’s unauthorised and wasteful expenditure.
Council also wants Mtsi to investigate Fani’s conduct following a complaint from a senior manager accusing him of intimidation and harassment after Fani allegedly left a threatening voice message.
The Daily Dispatch reported on a voice message the SA Municipal Workers’ Union submitted as evidence for a case filed against Fani by Siyabulela Peter.
In the voice message, Fani claims job requirements had been downgraded to accommodate Peter.
The mayor’s letter of intention to suspend the accounting officer was delivered to Fani’s office last Wednesday.
The Dispatch understands that instead of responding to the letter, Fani’s lawyers wrote to Mtsi seeking clarity on some of the issues included in the mayor’s letter of intent to suspend which was delivered to Fani a week ago.
The mayor looks set to continue with the investigation as the municipality placed an advert on its website last Friday calling for a suitable service provider to conduct an investigation into an “internal matter of alleged financial misconduct and contravention of municipal finance management act”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos