An investigation into the management and use of municipal vehicles in the Matlosana local municipality (Hartbeesfontein, Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein) in the North West province has exposed shocking irregularities that are indicative of possible extensive fraud and corruption while service delivery suffers.
The FF Plus launched an investigation into the matter after the party received numerous complaints from municipal departments and divisions that are unable to perform their duties, some for up to three months now, because there are no vehicles available. The majority of the vehicles reflected in the municipal records are either broken down or not available for use due to a number of reasons.
The municipal workshop is apparently no longer able to service the vehicles and now excessive amounts of money are paid to private businesses to do the repair work.
The FF Plus paid visits to six of the businesses that are listed as service providers and that are tasked with the repair of the vehicles. The contracts of all six have expired and now work is done on a monthly basis.
At present, 160 of Matlosana's vehicles are in for repairs at these businesses. Some of the vehicles have been standing on the premises of these businesses for years, in one case for as long as 11 years. Various reasons are provided for why the repair work is taking so long, for example, the parts are not available.
But in the interim, fees are charged for the storage of the vehicles and in some cases, these fees amount to more than what the vehicle is worth. Some of the vehicles are 20 years old. In other cases, the cost of the repair work amounts to more than double the market value of the relevant vehicle.
These are just a few of the problems that the FF Plus uncovered. The party considers this a very serious matter and does not exclude the possibility of fraud and corruption.
Thus, the FF Plus insists that the matter must be discussed and investigated on the highest level and the party will also ask the municipal manager to further investigate the irregularities with the aim of lodging criminal complaints so that the guilty parties can be prosecuted.
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