Durban – Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has been asked to probe claims of mismanagement in some KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, the IFP said on Tuesday.

They are the Umkhanyakude, Ethekwini, Mandeni, and Zululand municipalities, Inkatha Freedom Party deputy national spokesman Joshua Mazibuko said.

In Umkhanyakude, a dismissed municipal manager reportedly spent around R7.9m on water tankers that were never used.

“One other very serious allegation is that the service providers of water tankers are being paid by the municipality in collusion with some staff members within the municipality for services that they have never performed,” said Mazibuko.

Several companies which supplied services to the municipality were allegedly paid upfront, despite this being against regulations.

The axed manager allegedly hired the services of a consulting firm owned by the municipality’s chief financial officer Zenzo Masuku without any bidding process.

“The municipality ended up double-paying Masuku as the CFO and for consulting services. It is further alleged that Masuku is still with the municipality despite [a] new CFO having been appointed,” Mazibuko said.

Masuku worked in the Nkandla, uMhlabuyalingana, Big Five False Bay, Abaqulusi, and Zululand districts, all of which allegedly saw financial mismanagement in his tenure.

Mazibuko alleged the Umkhanyakude municipality failed to spend the totality of the municipal infrastructure grant which was intended to be used to solve the district’s water shortage.

Scores of households were still without access to clean water and the municipality could forfeit the funds, said Mazibuko.

In the Ethekwini municipality, a company owned by a top local government official was allegedly given a contract without the necessary steps being followed.

Mazibuko called on Madonsela to verify these and other claims.

“The office of the Public Protector must come in urgently to investigate these allegations so that the people of KwaZulu-Natal will know the truth,” said Mazibuko.

Madonsela’s office could not be reached for comment.

– SAPA