Mayor being probed for graft promoted

THE ANC in Free State has promoted a mayor who is being investigated by the police for corruption

THE ANC in Free State has promoted a mayor who is being investigated by the police for corruption.

Ngwathe local municipality mayor Max Moeketsi Moshodi is set to become mayor of the Fezile Dabi district municipality, which oversees Ngwathe and three other local municipalities.

The report of the Auditor-General, which was tabled in the council this year, accused municipal bosses of a string of financial irregularities.

These included:

• R55 million worth of assets that could not be traced,
• no supporting documents for R4,4 million worth of car allowances and R2,9 million of "other allowances" that were dished out to staff, and
• R7,5 million spent buying or upgrading assets that had never been recorded in the books.

Despite this, Moshodi has been "swapped" with Fezile Dabi mayor Jonas Ramokhoase, who will now become the mayor of Ngwathe.

Free State deputy police commissioner General Sithole confirmed to Sowetan that the police were investigating charges of corruption against Moshodi and Ngwathe municipal manager Norman Selai.

The charges were laid by the PAC's Free State secretary Papi Mafubedu.

Meanwhile, Ngwathe municipality's internal auditors have complained in another report that the finances of the municipality are being mismanaged.

"Satisfactory corrective steps have not been implemented with regard to previous findings."

The report says 19 suppliers to the municipality were found to have the same bank account numbers as other suppliers.

"This might result in payments being wrongly or fraudulently deposited into the bank accounts of other suppliers," the report says.

But the ANC said there was nothing wrong with its promoting Moshodi.

"Yes, Moshodi is our mayoral candidate in Fezile Dabi. We appointed him on the basis of his capabilities and strength.

"Ngwathe will deal with the auditor-general's report and report to council about the details," said ANC Free State spokesperson William Bulani.

But Mafubedu said Moshodi and Selai should have been arrested three months ago, after the auditor-general's report was tabled in the council.