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The municipality’s technical committee wants a forensic investigation, among many recommendations, to be conducted on the awarding of three tenders.

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Sizwe sama Yende

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The axe is out for City of Mbombela manager, Wiseman Khumalo, after a committee recommended that he should be put on special leave and a forensic investigation conducted on the awarding of tenders worth R78.9 million.

The People’s Eye has seen reports compiled by the municipality’s technical committee, which call for the Mpumalanga Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to commission a forensic audit to determine how the tenders were awarded.

These tenders are the Delta substation worth R33.3 million in Msholozi near White River, the R26.5 million West Acres substation and the R18 million disaster projects including roads and storm water.

Khumalo said that he was aware of the reports but indicated that he was not worried. “There are inconsistencies and other issues that do not add up,” he said.

The Technical Oversight Committee started investigating these projects in September 2023. Due to Khumalo and his staff not attending at least six meetings, the investigation was delayed for a while.

Regarding the Delta substation the committee said: “Relevant information requested from the executive arm was submitted to the committee. However, it was observed that in certain instances, the information provided by the Technical Services Department was contrary to the information provided by the Financial Management Department.”

The committee recommended that this matter be referred to the audit committee to determine the exact amount that should have been spent for the upgrade of the Delta substation.

It recommended that:

·      Executive mayor, Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, ensured that Khumalo discipline the Delta substation project manager;

·      Matters regarding the supply chain management process, whether they were followed or not, be referred to Cogta for investigation;

·      Considering the committee’s findings, the matter be referred to Cogta to conduct a forensic investigation.

The committee came up with the same set of recommendations regarding the West Acres substation. The only different recommendation is that Khumalo be placed on special leave while the matter is being investigated.

A concern with the West Acres substation was that there was a cession agreement in place, which was not signed, and a contractor was paid directly.

Regarding the disaster projects, the committee recommended that a lifestyle audit be done on all technical service officials.

Said the committee: “It be recommended that the failure to apply council policy, procedures and legislation pertaining SCM management processes for the work done on municipal roads, in the amount of R18 million, after the disasters in February and March 2023, be referred to Cogta for investigation and a progress report be submitted to council, within 30 days from the date of the council resolution.”