MEC puts family and friends first

INLSA

We hope that this report is true as his firing is long overdue. It is now 41 days (see Mmemezi Monitor at www.da-gpl.co.za ) since the scandal first broke about his government credit card misspending, including the R10 000 painting he bought at a McDonald s restaurant in Pretoria. The DA has obtained a photograph of this painting that hangs in his office (see below). Mmemezi has given various explanations as to why he purchased it through a McDonald s branch, none of which are satisfactory. It seems that he reimbursed the government for the painting when the scandal broke, and he now says that it was a donation .

BALDWIN NDABA

baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za

GAUTENG MEC for Local Government and Housing Humphrey Mmemezi boosted the salary of his daughter and his political allies while serving as human resources manager at Mogale City Municipality – in total defiance of the municipal manager.

The Star Africa is in possession of documents showing that Mmemezi ignored the view of the municipality’s acting municipal manager Shirley Mathebula when she said that “retrospective payments have never been upheld by the MM (Municipal Manager)”.

Mmemezi submitted a document to the council on May 19, 2010, detailing how his daughter, Nomvuzo Mmemezi, and five others should be paid retrospective car allowances. Her car allowance was backdated to February 1, 2006.

The other employees who were employed between July 2007 and July 2009 were also paid retrospectively.

Mathebula made the comment when Nomvuzo and Binang Monkwe, Alta Schoeman, Tshiamo Senosi, Wilna Scott and Dorah Nzwane wrote a petition asking for their car allowances to be backdated to their dates of appointment. Their letter is dated May 10, 2010.

Days later, senior managers Shirley van Niekerk and Japhter Makhafola supported their petition to municipality’s chief financial officer Leslie Mahuma also approving the request. It was also endorsed by the then head of corporate services David Mokoena.

Makhafola has since left Mogale City and taken up a position as chief financial officer in the Department of Local Government and Housing under Mmemezi.

Insiders told The Star Africa that Mmemezi’s daughter did not qualify for a car allowance when she became employed in the municipality in 2006.

“Locomotive holding position or car allowance were only given to managers and senior managers in the municipality. Her job was office bound and therefore did not qualify. It was illegal for the municipality to backdate her car allowance,” said insiders.

She was given a car allowance only in October 2007 but it was lowered by 200km compared to those given to managers and senior managers who were receiving a car allowance for travelling 650km. Nomvuzo and others were paid the money owed to them.

Mogale City spokesman Nkosana Zali denied that the six were paid retrospectively.

Mmemezi could not be reached for comment but speaking on Talk Radio 702 yesterday, he said he had never given his daughter car allowances retrospectively.

Answering for the municipality, Zali said: “The objective of the internal minute of the municipality was to request adjustment of travelling allowance for officials … so that the travelling allowance afforded to them should be at parity with officers at a similar level.”

Zali also denied allegations that in July 2010 Mmemezi authorised the increase in the salaries of Zweli Shiceka – the brother of the late former co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister – Zuki Nxumalo and Truly Mokebe.