Durban - The man tasked with overseeing the ethical conduct among eThekwini councillors has brushed off any suggestion that claims of misappropriation of funds previously levelled against him would taint his image and new role.
ANC councillor, Richard Hlophe, was elected as ethics committee chairman at the inaugural council meeting in the Durban City Hall on Tuesday.
The provincial secretary of the South African National Civil Organisation (Sanco) received the majority of votes when he went head to head with the DA’s Sithembiso Ngema for the top position in the council.
Hlophe received 132 votes, Ngema 80 and there was one spoilt ballot.
However, he is no stranger to controversy as he was implicated in an e-mail circulated anonymously that claimed that he had misappropriated the civic organisation’s funds.
But Hlophe denies this, saying the anonymous e-mail had been part of a smear campaign to discredit him during infighting within Sanco.
Speaking to the Daily News on Wednesday, Hlophe said the allegations against him had emerged after the Sanco provincial leadership disbanded the eThekwini region ahead of the organisation’s provincial conference.
“Those that were not happy with our decision then made those allegations. But it was found that their claim was unfounded,” he said in apparent reference to a probe by the civic organisation.
Hlophe, who is also known by the surname of Mkhungo, said when the allegations against him surfaced, he had approached the media and responded.
“It won’t dent my image and I will always respond to the claims at all times. I was not the treasurer.”
He insisted that the treasurer and two other people signed when there was a banking transaction, and that he could not have done banking transactions by himself.
Hlophe also explained how he has come to use two surnames. He said Hlophe was his mother’s surname, and he was in a process to officially change his surname through Home Affairs to Mkhungo.
“I have already done traditional things to that effect. I have done an application for a new ID,” Hlophe added.
He said he took his new role as a challenge, but he was equal to the task.
“I am a deployee of the ANC, not Sanco.”
The former South African Municipal Workers Union provincial secretary said he regarded his position as meaning that he should be responsible and his conduct should be excellent.
“I must make sure that everything, in particular, the code of conduct for councillors, is seriously observed.
“It means the council’s image is maintained. That includes ensuring there is order in the council.”
Hlophe also said he would make it his mission to bring dignity to council.
“The decorum of the house rules must be adhered to. You (a councillor) must attend council meetings,’ he said before warning that councillors that missed meetings for three consecutive times without apology risked dismissal.
Hlophe has been a player in the provincial politics as far back as 1990s. He served as Samwu provincial secretary between 1998 and 2996. Before that he had been the union’s organiser.
He has also previously served as president of Ceppawu and provincial treasurer of Cosatu.