By Thys Khiba – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Free State Provincial Secretary Bosanku Msimanga rejected the response of Metsimaholo Local Municipality on allegations of corruption related to a security tender issued by the municipality.
This comes after the Executive Mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality, Jeff Zwane released a statement to respond to reported allegations of corruption taking place in the municipality by saying that he was not involved in the appointment processes of his bodyguard and driver, Tubatsi Sefatsana as a technical contact person of security tender.
“That’s foolish of him, your driver who on daily basis is with you, driving you around. I don’t believe that view. Now that he is aware, what does he do with that? He has a responsibility to do oversight as the executive mayor. What does he do when a corrupt activity happens within your municipality,” said Msimanga.
According to Msimanga, the statement released by the municipality is ‘poorly constructed.’ He said that the municipality used a wrong Act [Act 117 of the Local Government Municipal Finance Management] to support their statement.
“We are not talking about him being involved in a tender, they are quoting a wrong section. It is not even an act 117, it is Section 117. They are quoting a wrong Section which talks about the councillor, here we are talking about a bodyguard,” said Msimanga.
Free State Central News reported Zwane has allegedly appointed his bodyguard and driver as a technical contact person in a municipal advertised security tender.
READ ALSO:
Zwane told Free State Central News that the Municipal Manager of Metsimaholo municipality, Advocate L Mofokeng is responsible for the appointment of Sefatsana as the ‘end-user.’
According to the spokesperson for the municipality, Dr Gino Alberts, the decision taken by the Municipal Manager was taken after the current Metsimaholo Municipality Security Manager, Cindi decided to rescued himself from the process.
“He sighted reasons known by the Municipality and based on the request, permission for his recusal was granted,” said Alberts.
Msimanga said Cindi rescued himself from the process after the Municipal Manager allegedly changed the specifications of the security tender.
Amongst other factors, the municipality said the Municipal Manager took a decision to appoint the mayor’s bodyguard and driver as the ‘end-user’ due to the Security Coordinator who is on suspension pending investigation.
In addition to the stated reasons by the municipality, the decision was taken, “the third person who was appointed as the end-user in the previous tender is currently on leave and waiting for his return would have delayed the process.”
According to Metsimaholo Municipality, Sefatsana is the highest qualified person in the VIP Unit with the relevant experience, and this includes the National Key Point Certificate.
The EFF has rejected this claim by saying that Zwane allegedly appointed Sefatsana due to his position as his bodyguard and driver, his vulnerabilities and to influence his decisions.
The Municipal Manager told political parties serving in the council that no ‘political interference will be tolerated in all tender processes.’
In response to the resolution of in-sourcing of security services, the municipality said the resolution will be implemented based on the recommendations.
“The council took a resolution in 2019 to in-source the security services, however it was recommended that the feasibility study be conducted to that effect,” said Dr Alberts.
—————————————————————
DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY OR AN OPINION FOR CENTRAL NEWS: E-mail us : newsroom@centralnews.co.za or Whatsapp us on 0833989119