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The Eastern Cape has become the epicentre of corruption

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DA condemns utterances By COGTA MEC

Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns the utterances made by COGTA MEC, Xolile Nqatha, at the memorial service of the late Buffalo City Metro Speaker, Alfred Mtsi.

The MEC’s comments highlight the extent to which the Eastern Cape has become the epicentre of corruption, and how the lack of consequence management is spreading like the virus.

In the video circulating on social media MEC Nqatha is clearly heard stating, in no uncertain terms, that it is “unANC” and “not comradely” to contemplate disciplinary action against anyone who must be held accountable for wrongdoing if that person is in quarantine because he is ill. He said officials facing disciplinary action would already be too stressed and that the challenges of the Coronavirus do not “require a stressed cadreship”.

He further intimated that if action is to be taken against anyone in quarantine, their immune system may not be able to handle it and that they will die.

Watch video here:

The MEC has already started backtracking, saying his words have been taken out of context, so perhaps we should look at the context of his utterances. That context being collapsing local government, where senior ANC cadres, deployed to municipalities, are facing serious allegations of fraud, corruption and maladministration, such as:

  • Buffalo City Municipality City Manager, Andile Sihlahla, who faces suspension for the poor audit outcomes and incriminatory MPAC findings against him;
  • Suspended OR Tambo district Municipal manager, Owen Hlazo, who faces criminal charges for fraud, theft and corruption related to financial mismanagement of R168 million. This, while invoices to the amount of R 4.8 million for door-to-door activities are also still under investigation;
  • The Municipal Manager of Ndlambe Municipality, whom the DA has requested be suspended after the Grahamstown High Court set aside an unlawful tender awarded to Quality Filtration Systems (QFS) for the Port Alfred Desalination Plant;
  • The 11 officials at the Mbhashe municipality, who are under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit relating to a R106 million yellow plant machinery and equipment tender.

Auditor-General (AG) Kimi Makwetu’s latest report on the Audit Outcomes for Local Government tells a story of widespread lack of financial controls and project monitoring in the Eastern Cape, with a culture of lack of accountability and a tolerance of transgressions, which has resulted in a further regression in audit outcomes in the province.

This is the context of MEC Nqatha’s words.

The DA has referred the matter to the Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane and have asked him to investigate MEC Nqatha’s utterances.

There is no word in the English language such as “unANC”. There are words like “unconstitutional”, “unjust” and “unacceptable” which could all be used to describe the comments made by the MEC.

While it is understood that that people who are ill must be treated humanely – that should also apply to the larger population of South Africa, who are left to bear the brunt of the looting, thieving and corruption by cadres that steal money that was meant for their benefit.

Those implicated may be stressed in quarantine, but they did not appear stressed when they deliberately stole from the people of South Africa. The law must be applied swiftly and to its full extent.

Regards

Vicky Knoetze

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Port Elizabethan

This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.