ANC alliance partners in Mpumalanga have taken a swipe at Premier David Mabuza’s “corruption-riddled” administration.
The SACP, Cosatu and the South African Student Congress (Sasco) said they would embark on a series of marches against corruption, to demand an outcome of the probe into political killings and the banning of labour brokers. They believe that corruption and political killings are linked.
“We want the police to come up with practical ways of investigating individuals who are implicated in corruption,” said provincial SACP secretary Bonakele Majuba during a press conference.
“The political killings come as a result of corruption. Tendering is becoming a problem for this country and is causing strain,” Majuba said.
Cosatu secretary Fidel Mlombo said whistleblowers were victimised for reporting corruption.
Mlombo mentioned cases which, he said, indicated that Mpumalanga was a capital of corruption:
» The auditor-general’s report according to which 80% of tenders in Mpumalanga were issued irregularly;
» Alleged corruption related to the R1.2-billion Mbombela stadium;
» The R230-million farm mechanisation tender that was awarded to Mabuza’s former business partner while he was MEC for agriculture;
» The R300 million that parastatal Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) failed to account for;
» R2.7-million theft at Mbombela municipality;
» The withdrawal of charges against former Mbombela municipal manager Jacob Dladla and the golden handshake offered to him.
Dladla was found guilty of tender corruption in 2010 but the council withdrew the charges last December and took a resolution to pay him about R2.1 million.
Mlombo said more than ten whistleblowers were killed in Mpumalanga since 2006.
The alliance partners said the police should report back on the progress of its 12-member team that was tasked with probing political murders.
Mpumalanga government spokesperson Lebona Mosia said it was untrue that the provincial administration was not fighting corruption.
“Just last week the premier announced the formation of the anti-corruption council and said its strategy has been approved by cabinet. It can't be true that we're doing nothing because officials and service providers have been charged in this province for corruption,” Mosia said.
Source: News 24
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