Even though the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) spends millions on security, its infrastructure is still being plundered.
The Municipality spent a whopping R12,5 million on security services in April alone, but still the municipal offices were plundered and critical infrastructure, such as substations, were stripped.
This amount exceeds the budgeted figure by R2,25 million, even after a 5% budget cut was implemented as part of the Municipality’s financial recovery programme.
The Municipality’s expenditure on security services is excessive given the poor service it gets in return. Security personnel are also employed for political protection, including transporting senior officials to and from meetings in luxury vehicles.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) demands a forensic audit of all security payments since 2006, and the disclosure of a complete list of security service providers and their beneficiaries.
If any irregularities become evident, disciplinary action should be taken against the officials who authorised the expenditure.
Contracts with security companies that fail to meet stringent standards have to be terminated.
Emfuleni has already been driven to its knees financially, and contracted security services are expected to protect its infrastructure properly.
The only way to curb misappropriation in this Municipality is to oust the ANC government at the polls and elect a responsible party that serves the community.
