By OBAKENG MAJE
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the North West said it was shocked to learn that a senior African National Congress (ANC) official in the province, Hlomane Chauke who serves as its Interim Provincial Coordinator (IPC) is deliberately promoting corruption in government.
This comes after Chauke allegedly instructed the Chief Whips of Districts and municipalities in the province to use taxpayers’ money for accommodation and traveling for ANC functionaries who will be attending an ANC Lekgotla from the 25th – 26th January 2020 in Rustenburg.
The EFF provincial chairperson, Shakes Botswe said he was disappointed that Chauke who also serves as a Member of Parliament (MP) can issue such a reckless instruction, which borders on the promotion of corruption in government. Botswe further said municipalities, both local and districts are an integral part of the state.
“The EFF rejects the ANC’s deliberate conflation of the state and the party. We also reject the deliberate act of blurring the line that separates the party from the state. The ANC is not the state and the state is not the ANC. We further call upon the ANC especially its national structures to take drastic steps against Chauke for promoting corruption.
“Corruption is cancer that is eating at the fabric of the South African society and the ANC government is still battling on how to deal with it. Presently, the local government sphere of government in the province has collapsed because of corruption. Not even a single municipality has received a clean audit from the Auditor General,” he said.
Botswe added that all the disclaimers incurred by municipalities are as a result of corruption. He added that it is against this background that the EFF calls for disciplinary steps to be taken against Chauke.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the province shared the same sentiments. DA provincial leader, Joe McGluwa said they have written to the North West Premier, Prof Job Mokgoro to demand answers.
McGluwa said: “It is in the interest of the public that Mokgoro comes out clear and announce who will be footing the bill to this extravagance. As previously indicated, the DA will approach the High Court to interdict the Lekgotla, should this event continue with the costs carried by municipalities.
“Paying the accommodation and travel costs of ANC cadres using state funds is criminal and should be addressed urgently. To this end, we will be sending out letters to all municipalities indicating the dire consequences should they proceed to fund this Lekgotla.”
However, the ANC in the North West categorically denies any intention to use taxpayer’s money for its Provincial Lekgotla. The party’s provincial spokesperson, Kenny Morolong said that the ANC is committed to fiscal prudence and clean governance and the latter must inter-alia be realized by ensuring that taxpayers money is used for the purpose for which it is intended.
“The communique which invites ANC deployees to the Provincial Lekgotla states that the municipality must take full responsibility of traveling and accommodation arrangements of its delegates to the Provincial Lekgotla. The reference to the municipality with respect to our invite to the Provincial Lekgotla has always been interpreted by our structures and councillors as “deployees (councillors) representing a municipal council.”
“When we refer to a municipality in similar terms as stated in our invite we refer to a collective of ANC deployees who represent a particular municipality. We have consistently cautioned our public representatives against expenditure incurred by our institutions without provision having been made for such in the budget or without obtaining approval in terms of appropriate legislation,” said Morolong.
He said their deployees are acutely aware of the fact that they are personally liable for costs of their travel and accommodation to the Lekgotla as this is an established practice in the ANC. Morolong added that a deliberate confusion created around their communique by those with mischievous intentions is without basis.
The Guardian 