Tshwane municipal manager probed

21 September 2010, 00:06
Investigations into allegations of maladministration, irregularities and misconduct against the suspended Tshwane municipal manager have been completed, said former Truth and Reconciliation commissioner Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza on Monday.

Ntsebeza, who was tasked in February to investigate municipal manager Kiba Kekana, said: "I have completed the investigation and the final report was submitted on the fourth of June."

He said he had given his report to executive Dr Gwen Ramokgopa as well as to some members of the council who had assisted in the investigation.

He declined to comment on the contents of his report or why it had never been made public. It has also not been presented to the city's council.

Municipality spokesperson Console Tleane said: "What we can confirm is that Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza is no longer offering services in relation to this matter.

"We prefer not to comment on whether the investigation is still ongoing on not. We will issue a statement in due course."

Kekana was appointed in April 2007, making him the city's eighth municipal manager since 2000.

He was suspended in October last year on 11 allegations of mismanagement. Five of these were subsequently dropped.

The Pretoria News reported in April that Ntsebeza and Ramokgopa clashed over the dropping of these charges, which it said had the potential to implicate Ramokgopa in wrongdoing.

It reported that Kekana had failed to control Ramokgopa's expenditure, which related to Ramokgopa receiving a housing allowance while occupying a municipal-owned house, and the municipality paying for all her cellphone calls.

On Saturday, the Beeld newspaper reported that a deal was about to be reached that would see Kekana receive a golden handshake of R2.5-million. It said the Tshwane Mayoral Committee had discussed the issue of a golden handshake.

The Democratic Alliance's Gauteng local government spokesperson on Sunday urged the Gauteng local government MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro to stop any moves to pay the golden handshake.

"The mayor suspended Kekana and commissioned an investigation into his involvement of alleged irregular activities. They must either continue with the investigation or reinstate him," said Nel.

"The MEC must step in and protect the Tshwane metro's taxpayers from an unnecessary and fruitless expense. That money should be used towards service delivery and not towards enriching an ANC cadre."

He said the DA would consider approaching the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela.

Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Philip van Staden said: "This is a brilliant example of why you should not have a political appointee. The city must get the right guy for the job irrespective of his colour."

Lekgoro's spokesperson said the matter was an issue that needed to be resolved by the Tshwane municipality.

"It doesn't involve us. If the DA makes an allegation why should we comment?" he said. - Sapa

The Star

Comments by Sonny

These probes go nowhere - Take the fraud in Johannesburg and start here!

Estimated accounts are always inflated and never get repaid!