THE National Freedom Party plans to report the Zululand District Municipality to the office of the public protector for alleged corruption.
In a statement by the party’s leader Canaan Mdletshe, he said the NFP has resolved to seek an audience with Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane over shenanigans taking place at the Zululand District Municipality.
“The decision to lodge a formal complaint with Advocate Mkhwebane emanates from the reliable information we have received pertaining to serious allegations levelled against the council and it's mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi,” he said.
Among the allegations, he said they been reliably informed that there are two senior officials who have been getting full salaries since last year, without reporting for duty or setting their foot in office.
“These claims are serious and they need to be thoroughly investigated and our view is that the office of the public protector is best placed to investigate them.
“We will also be writing to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) asking for them to investigate serious corruption allegations levelled against the mayor as per the findings of the Mdledle forensic investigation.
“The investigation sanctioned by the KZN Cogta MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, uncovered massive corruption, allegedly involving the mayor,“ he said.
He said they want the findings of that investigation to be implemented. He said the party believes the SIU is better placed to dig deeper and take necessary steps where maladministration and fraud has taken place.
“During our electioneering, we committed ourselves to being the eyes and ears of the community. We promised our electorates we will leave no stone unturned in the fight against corruption and we intend doing just that. We owe it to the voters to walk the talk,“ he said.
Spokesperson for the Zululand Municipality Zanele Mthethwa said they will wait for communication from the departments of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and office of the public protector.
THE MERCURY