Pretoria - Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Lechesa Tsenoli has called for the establishment of a forensic investigation team to probe corruption allegations levelled against the Westonaria municipality and the Bekkersdal Urban Renewal Programme.
This comes after the Greater Westonaria Concerned Residents’ Association (GWCRA) accused the municipality and the urban renewal programme of corruption.
In response to the residents’ allegations, Tsenoli has asked the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ntombi Mekgwe, to immediately start a forensic investigation of both the municipality and the urban renewal programme.
The probe will be done in conjunction with representatives of the concerned groups to ensure a speedy resolution of the situation.
“This is a joint effort. Neither the national department nor the province will tolerate fraud or corruption, and this is just one of many ways we are cooperating with one another,” said Tsenoli.
The team, working together with the representatives of the GWCRA, will report back regularly to the community on priorities and progress. Representatives of the GWCRA and other stakeholders will participate to ensure an inclusive and democratic outcome.
The Auditor General’s office has also agreed to participate in this process. The terms of reference for the probe are to be drawn up before the end of the month, and the minister has urging those with information to share it with the investigation team.
“The Gauteng government is steadfastly opposed to all corrupt practices, and the better the information we receive, the better our ability to fight corruption,” said Mekgwe.
She said those with information should contact her department before 30 November.
The Gauteng Provincial Government has appointed a task team to expedite the service delivery programme in the province.
It is a move that has the support of the national Department of Cooperative Governance and other national departments.
Amalgamation of municipalities
In line with the Municipal Demarcation Act no. 27 of 1998, Mekgwe will gazette a notice to appoint an administrator to facilitate the amalgamation of Westonaria and Randfontein into a single municipality by 2016.
The administrator will lead a team comprising senior officials from Tsenoli’s department as well as the district municipality. - SAnews.gov.za
