By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Democratic Alliance calls for thorough scrutiny on various COVID-19 related projects at Naledi Local Municipality. This comes after allegations that the embattled municipality purchased 20 FFP1 dust masks at a cost of R23 500.
The DA councillor at the municipality, Hendriette van Huyssteen said the normal estimated retail price for the same goods cost around R189.75. She said the report was made available to account for emergency expenditure last week during a special council.
“A total of R154 902.78 of R268 000 relief grant has already been spent. We have requested that all related emergency expenditures under this relief grant be referred to the municipality’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) for further investigation.
“We have also insisted that all future purchases be considered carefully to ensure that goods or services are procured at reasonable and fair prices. The DA will interrogate this expenditure and where necessary propose corrective action that may include disciplinary action against officials found to have facilitated transactions of goods or services at unreasonable and inflated prices,” she said.
The relief grant received was earmarked for additional funding to support the municipality’s response under the state of disaster specifically to support improved sanitation, decontamination of specific selected municipal spaces, and purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for officials, hygiene packs and waste management.
Huyssteen added that the DA rejects all forms of tender fraud and the theft of public money. She said any person who is suspected to be implicated in fraud and corruption should be investigated and if found guilty, should be prosecuted for the abuse of public funds which negatively affect service delivery to residents.
However, the Naledi Local Municipality acting municipal manager, Excinia Makgehlela refuted the allegations, Morongwa News stated. Makgehlela said: “The DA statement was misleading as the municipality procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) from Midas Vryburg as per the quote received for R29.38 as opposed to the DA claim.
“Proper procurement process was followed in the acquisition of the PPEs equipment. The municipality continues to align itself to the set regulations by the National Treasury on the purchase of COVID-19 PPEs.”
The Guardian 