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Intervention leads to recommendation for removal of Inxuba Yethemba Mayor

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Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes a report by the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM) Ethics Committee advising that the Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Xolile Nqatha, remove the mayor, Cllr Ray Shweni, as a councillor.

The recommendation for the removal of Mayor Shweni followed after the DA successfully lodged a complaint with the Public Protector (PP), Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane, to investigate the misappropriation of public funds to transport ANC members to party political events in 2017.

This report by the Ethics Eommittee, recommending the mayor’s removal, was handed to the Regional Working Committee (RWC) of the ANC before it was tabled in council on 22 January 2020 and is now in the public domain. (report attached)

During an ethics committee meeting that was held on Friday, 15 November 2019, the chairperson indicated to the members of the committee that the report has been referred to the ANC-RWC hence the delay in the Speaker calling a special council meeting to table the report.

The DA has written to the Speaker and the Mayor to ask for an investigation into this unacceptable behaviour. (letter attached)

The PP found that Mayor Ray Shweni, other ANC Councillors and officials in the IYLM in this regard misappropriated public funds to the tune of R125 000

DA Cllr Monde Desha lodged the complaint with the PP on 23 February 2017 and the final report was released on 9 September 2019. (report attached)

Adv Mkhwebane found the following actions to have resulted in non-compliance with the Municipality’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) Policy and the misappropriation of public funds:

  • R45 000 towards the transportation of 60 ANC supporters in order for them to attend the ANC’s “January 8 Statement” event at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg in 2017;
  • R8 200 for hiring a luxury vehicle , Toyota Fortuner, to transport the Chief Whip of Inxuba Yethemba Municipal Council, Councillor Thembisile Bobo, and five other ANC members to the same event in Johannesburg; and
  • R72 000 to transport 180 ANC supporters to attend the Provincial Roadshow in Mthatha on the 15th of January 2017.

The success of this DA intervention proves that we are working tirelessly for the people, fighting for clean governance and waging a war against corruption in all municipalities across the province. DA representatives, no matter how few they are, are of utmost importance to hold ANC-led governments to account.

Regards

Nqaba Bhanga
DA EC Provincial Leader

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.