Johannesburg - The DA in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday welcomed the suspension of Mtubatuba municipal manager Siyabonga Ntuli, pending a probe into allegations of tender fraud.
“That he continues to be paid in full while suspended is very good reason to fast-track the enquiry,” Democratic Alliance spokesman George Mari said in a statement.
On Wednesday the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs said Ntuli was placed on precautionary suspension on full pay with effect from Monday.
Spokesman Lennox Mabaso said Ntuli faced allegations of misconduct relating to the awarding of tenders and failing to perform the duties of the municipal manager, as set out in the Municipal Property Rates Act.
The Mtubatuba municipality was placed under administration by the provincial cabinet after the collapse of governance to the extent that operations had almost ground to a halt, compromising the delivery of services.
As part of their mandate administrators had to implement the recovery plan and take action against anyone compromising good and clean governance in the municipality, he said.
Mari said that financial mismanagement had devastating consequences, particularly for service delivery.
“The DA expects (co-operative governance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube) to do everything in her power to ensure that this enquiry takes place without delay and that, in the event that any wrongdoing is found, she sends out a very clear message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Sapa