DA, SANCO welcome SIU investigation into alleged corruption at Lepelle Nkumpi municipality in Limpopo

THE long-standing allegations of corruption and malfeasance at Limpopo’s Lepelle Nkumpi municipality will come under investigation following a presidential proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to intervene.

The SIU will investigate contracts for goods, work or services entered into by the municipality between December 2013 and June 2016.

The contracts include the awarding in December 2013 of work for the refurbishment of the Lebowakgomo Civic Centre, rehabilitation of dumping sites and construction of various roads.

In welcoming the SIU investigation, Democratic Alliance (DA) provincial spokesperson for COGHSTA, Lindy Wilson, said: “This investigation is long overdue; a forensic investigation at the time was conducted by Ernst and Young at a cost of R2 million to the tax payers.

“The preliminary briefings by the Ernst and Young representatives confirmed irregular appointments of service providers and financial mismanagement, all of which was set in full in the final report. The DA was denied access to this report despite the submission of a PAIA application.”

Wilson said in an effort to sweep the alleged corruption and malfeasance under carpet, the ANC-led municipality offered the then municipal manager, Freddy Ramaphakela, a R1, 1 million golden handshake.

The municipality was also implicated in the VBS scandal after it invested R150 million in the now defunct institution.

Meanwhile, the SA National Civic Association (SANCO) said the SIU investigation at the municipality was long overdue. The organisation called on all individuals approached by the SIU investigators – whether the mayor, councillors or officials – to cooperate fully.

“We believe and trust that our country’s justice system will carry out its duties effectively,” the organization said.