Senior Eastern Cape politicians and government officials have been subpoenaed by the public protector to answer questions on the Mandela funeral funding scandal.
The politicians and officials – including provincial acting Director-General Mahlubandile Qwase and Buffalo City Metro (BCM) mayor Zukiswa Ncitha – have allegedly failed to appear voluntarily before investigators.
Others subpoenaed include human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August, BCM municipal manager Andile Fani, BCM CFO Vincent Pillay, PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo and BCM senior manager Ondela Mahlangu. They are now legally obliged to appear before public protector (PP) investigators as part of the PP’s probe into the spending of funds budgeted for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
Those subpoenaed are expected to report to the PP’s offices by the end of the month. “Resources permitting, the Public Protector hopes to conclude by the end of March. This is all we can say at this stage in the interest of ensuring that the investigation is not jeopardised,” spokesman Oupa Sekgalwe said.
The Dispatch learnt that the subpoenas were issued earlier this week.
Mahlangu was implicated in the scandal after allegedly attending a meeting held in BCM council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele’s office where it was discussed how the money would be spent.
She was mentioned several times by Victory Ticket owner Mzwandile Sokwali in affidavits before court, where some of the officials face criminal charges in connection with the matter.
Mahlangu allegedly met Sokwali several times as Sokwali drafted an invoice to the municipality for transporting mourners to memorial services around the metro.
Ncitha is to be questioned by the PP’s investigating team in her capacity as executive mayor of BCM, and because she signed for the release of the funds.
Ncitha’s office refused to comment yesterday, saying the matter was sub judice.
Sauls-August was allegedly responsible for co-ordinating the memorial service in Port Elizabeth where the provincial government spent R9.2-million.
When asked last year by the Dispatch how the money was spent, Sauls-August refused to respond.
She was allegedly phoned on several occasions by the PP’s office and asked questions she has not yet answered.
Qwase – in his capacity as the province’s acting director-general – has to answer why the premier’s office spent more than R2-million for the funeral when the executive council had ordered that payments should be directed through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).
The PP investigation will also probe a “pre-tears party” where Phumlani-born songstress Zahara, poet Mzwakhe Mbuli, gospel singer Lusanda Mcinga and others were meant to perform.
Millions were spent paying the musicians and on preparations for the event, which was a flop.
Mdyolo – who originally questioned the release of R10-million by BCM for several memorial services – yesterday said he had yet to receive a request to be interviewed by the PP. “I am willing and obliged by law. The public protector’s office is a chapter 9 institution and we have to cooperate with the office at all the time to help the state,” said Mdyolo.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said he was not aware of the subpoenas. “As the communications department we have not been made aware of such,” he said.
Human settlements spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha referred all questions to office of the premier spokeswoman Mandisa Titi, who had not responded at the time of going to print. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Protector issues subpoenas
The politicians and officials – including provincial acting Director-General Mahlubandile Qwase and Buffalo City Metro (BCM) mayor Zukiswa Ncitha – have allegedly failed to appear voluntarily before investigators.
Others subpoenaed include human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August, BCM municipal manager Andile Fani, BCM CFO Vincent Pillay, PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo and BCM senior manager Ondela Mahlangu. They are now legally obliged to appear before public protector (PP) investigators as part of the PP’s probe into the spending of funds budgeted for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
Those subpoenaed are expected to report to the PP’s offices by the end of the month. “Resources permitting, the Public Protector hopes to conclude by the end of March. This is all we can say at this stage in the interest of ensuring that the investigation is not jeopardised,” spokesman Oupa Sekgalwe said.
The Dispatch learnt that the subpoenas were issued earlier this week.
Mahlangu was implicated in the scandal after allegedly attending a meeting held in BCM council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele’s office where it was discussed how the money would be spent.
She was mentioned several times by Victory Ticket owner Mzwandile Sokwali in affidavits before court, where some of the officials face criminal charges in connection with the matter.
Mahlangu allegedly met Sokwali several times as Sokwali drafted an invoice to the municipality for transporting mourners to memorial services around the metro.
Ncitha is to be questioned by the PP’s investigating team in her capacity as executive mayor of BCM, and because she signed for the release of the funds.
Ncitha’s office refused to comment yesterday, saying the matter was sub judice.
Sauls-August was allegedly responsible for co-ordinating the memorial service in Port Elizabeth where the provincial government spent R9.2-million.
When asked last year by the Dispatch how the money was spent, Sauls-August refused to respond.
She was allegedly phoned on several occasions by the PP’s office and asked questions she has not yet answered.
Qwase – in his capacity as the province’s acting director-general – has to answer why the premier’s office spent more than R2-million for the funeral when the executive council had ordered that payments should be directed through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).
The PP investigation will also probe a “pre-tears party” where Phumlani-born songstress Zahara, poet Mzwakhe Mbuli, gospel singer Lusanda Mcinga and others were meant to perform.
Millions were spent paying the musicians and on preparations for the event, which was a flop.
Mdyolo – who originally questioned the release of R10-million by BCM for several memorial services – yesterday said he had yet to receive a request to be interviewed by the PP. “I am willing and obliged by law. The public protector’s office is a chapter 9 institution and we have to cooperate with the office at all the time to help the state,” said Mdyolo.
BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese said he was not aware of the subpoenas. “As the communications department we have not been made aware of such,” he said.
Human settlements spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha referred all questions to office of the premier spokeswoman Mandisa Titi, who had not responded at the time of going to print. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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