The persons guilty of committing fraud with the renovation project of the Pretoria City Hall must be charged and prosecuted.
On Thursday, the FF Plus in the Tshwane Metro Council supported the proposal that a director in the Office of the Mayor should be internally investigated for authorising payments and failing to properly monitor the project.
In 2012, the Department of Housing and Human Settlements commenced the process of appointing contractors for the project.
It would have housed the Office of the Mayor and the project would have been completed in three phases amounting to 42,7 million, 50 million and 10 million, respectively.
In 2015, the Metro asked the company Fundudzi Forensic Services (Pty) Ltd to conduct a forensic investigation into the project.
The report contained evidence of financial misconduct and spending irregularities, and recommended that action be taken against three senior officials. Two have since left the Metro.
The report states that R24 million of the R42,7 million was paid to contractors for phase 1, but that services amounting to a mere R4 million were indeed rendered.
In addition, the report also states that certain officials may have unlawfully benefited from the project. Further findings include that prices for furniture were inflated, goods were not delivered, invoices were used to overcharge and workmanship was poor.
The report recommends that money should be recovered from those who unduly benefited. Ntshadi Consortium is singled out for financial irregularities and incomplete work, and needs to be further investigated.
It is also recommended that Ntshadi Consortium and its directors be blacklisted.
The Tshwane Metro is further advised to lodge a criminal complaint with the police about the irregularities.
This matter has been dragging on for years while one of the city’s treasures are left to go to ruin. The FF Plus will leave no stone unturned until the guilty parties are brought to book.
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