The Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) had to urgently cancel its debit order facility due to irregularities and a possibly organised fraud scam.
The Municipality has since suspended three officials allegedly implicated it in. The possibility that more officials could be involved has not been ruled out.
The irregularities came to light when personnel discovered that the amounts of the debit orders deposited into the Municipality’s bank account are significantly less than the actual outstanding amounts.
The FF Plus insisted during a Financial Committee meeting that the matter should be thoroughly investigated and that the relevant officials be held accountable for their unlawful actions.
The party also insisted that officials should be criminally charged if found guilty by an internal inquiry.
Emfuleni already finds itself in a serious financial predicament as it cannot pay its monthly debt to bulk suppliers.
The Municipality cannot afford to be internally compromised as well.