“There is no accountability at all, even if there is evidence of corruption happening within the municipality. There’s nothing happening.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has expressed disappointment with the Greater Kokstad Municipality, following a failed meeting that was promised by the Mayor Lwanda Madikizela. The meeting aimed to discuss key issues, including corruption allegations against the SPU manager.
This promised meeting came after the EFF staged a march outside GKM offices two months prior, demanding answers from authorities regarding corruption claims. EFF leader Zukisani Tshangase stated that the meeting didn’t materialize as agreed upon with the Mayor. “The meeting was scheduled to take place a week after the march, but it never happened, only last week Thursday, they sent a WhatsApp message asking us to attend on the 25th , unfortunately , we were busy and couldn’t manage to attend, so we told them to give us more time, considering our existing schedules,” explained Tshangase.
Tshangase highlighted the key issues that were meant to be discussed which include,service delivery around the wards and the issue of gym pyne sports complex. “ Another issue was of the farm that was bought by the municipality and was leased to their political friend who affiliates with the ANC and they are using that farm to benefit themselves where they are putting their livestock like sheep and cows that they have as the officials of the municipality,” said Tshangase.
The EFF leader raised another concern regarding the municipality’s practices. “The issue of halls that we are denied access to, when we want to use the halls, the ward councillors book them for nothing. Those are the issues we wanted to address in this municipality,” he said. Tshangase further expressed frustration with the lack of accountability within the municipality, citing evidence of corruption that seems to go unaddressed. “There is no accountability at all, even if there is evidence of corruption happening within the municipality. There’s nothing happening,” he said.
The EFF leader also highlighted the issue of political interference in the municipality’s administration, stating that it’s a significant problem. “The political interference within the administration of the municipalities is on another level,” he added. As a result, the EFF has sent reports to the provincial and national leadership, detailing these concerns. The party is also planning to open a criminal case against the implicated manager and the municipality manager for fraud and corruption allegations. “As the EFF, we have sent these reports to the attention of the province and national leadership, and we are also planning to open a criminal case against the implicated manager and the municipality manager for the fraud and corruption allegations happening in the municipality,” said the EFF leader.
However, the Greater Kokstad Municipality’s Head communication Zolani Siqwayi, disputes the EFF’s account, stating that a meeting was confirmed last week , but no EFF members showed up, nor did they send a letter of apology. Siqwayi also confirmed that an internal investigation is taking place regarding the SPU manager’s allegations, with an independent investigator hired to look into the matter. According to the Siqwayi, the investigation is in its final stages and the findings will be shared soon.
