Just for noting especially to Mnquma Residents.... This is ur municipal manager. 7 April Municipal Boss In R9m Saga A MUNICIPAL manager and two senior officials of an Eastern Cape municipality face prosecution for allegedly embezzling more than R9-million in tender frauds. Sindile Tantsi faces legal action after an investigation by national treasury claimed he milked the municipality of millions of rands while working there. Tantsi was municipal manager for Ntabankulu municipality, which has an unemployment rate of more than 50%, according to statistics from the 2011 Census. The population stands at 123 976. Tantsi resigned last year, and was hired as a municipal manager in Mnquma, a position he currently holds. He has denied the allegations, calling the report an attempt to tarnish his image. The report, presented by local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane to council last week, details allegations of how Tantsi and other officials gave tenders to service providers who did not score the highest points during bid adjudication, but were appointed without valid reasons. Some of the findings include that: Companies not listed in the municipality’s database were given tenders; Most service providers subcontracted up to 95% of their work even though the municipal policy only allowed 25% of the work to be sub- contracted. This occurred twice with tenders amounting to more than R2million each. In one instance, R1.3-million was paid to a subcontractor while the main contractor only pocketed R300 000. The same sub-contractor scored R2.1-million for a road construction project, while the main contractor only received R414 000; Accepted two bids from different companies owned by one person. “Different contact numbers were used for each of these quotations but all these contact numbers were answered by one individual”, the report read; Payments were authorised with no budget or supporting documents; Contracted companies quoted other service providers’ VAT numbers; and Irregularly delegated officials approved payments without proof of service rendered. Tantsi told the Dispatch yesterday he would consult his lawyers today. “That [report] is meant to taint my image. I asked these treasury guys to fast-track this investigation so that I can get a draft and respond. “Now it has been made final, neither has the municipality nor open threats to those who ventured to co-operate” it reads. Tantsi is also accused of appointing a grader operator whose highest qualification is a matric certificate as acting project management unit manager. This is the unit responsible for managing all municipal infrastructure grant projects. To make matters worse, when the post was advertised for a permanent candidate, it was advertised at R400 000 a year but the candidate who was hired was paid R600 000 a year, and according to the report there was no record explaining the discrepancy. If Tantsi is found guilty of misconduct he cannot be employed in any municipality for 10 years. “Since the individual concerned is no longer in the employ of the municipality, further action is needed to be done as in terms of Section 173 of the Municipal Finance Management Act – such acts of misconduct amount to a criminal offence,” the report says. The report recommended that council take a resolution instructing the acting municipal manager to report the matter to the police. Qoboshiyane said yesterday the council was expected to act on the report and respond to issues highlighted within 30 days, provide an action plan and take action against the implicated officials. “The investigation will further be considered for third parties implicated and we shall endeavour soliciting state law agencies to complete the process.” Mayor Vusi Mgoduka said: “We have noted the report. We will comment after we have adopted it.” DA spokeswoman Veliswa Mvenya said: “The ANC is looting as if they are running against time to ensure that by the time they are unseated, they have used all the money.” The UDM’s Jackson Bici said his party supported the call for criminal charges to be laid against all those involved in plundering taxpayers’ monies. —
Posted on: Mon, 07 Apr 2014 17:22:16 +0000