MORE than 300 ANC members and residents of Khotsong in Bothaville, Free State, staged protests at the cash-strapped Nala municipality's offices yesterday.
They are demanding the immediate removal of all municipal employees allegedly implicated in fraud and corruption, including the speaker Nozililo Mashiya.
The protests came after a damning audit report by KPMG which uncovered a litany of irregularities within the municipality.
The municipality serves the poverty-stricken towns of Bothaville, Wesselsbron and surrounding areas.
Investigators uncovered a slew of fraud incidents and corrupt activities which also involved 51 companies that secured tenders from the local authority.
The report revealed that, between July 2009 and May 2010, Mashiya allegedly spent R11489 to buy liquor with the municipality's credit card.
Mashiya earlier told Sowetan that the matter was sub judice but declared her willingness to cooperate with the probe .
The municipality was placed under administration by the provincial government in 2009 as a result of "massive" mismanagement. The municipality cannot generate revenue despite R6-million spent to improve the system.
Last week, municipal manager David Shongwe was suspended after it was found that he was involved in the allegations. Former technical services director, Sidwell Nxumalo, resigned before he could be suspended.
Shongwe was suspended after municipality employees went on strike calling for his removal.
Yesterday, demonstrators demanded that Mashiya, internal auditor Thulo Majoe, and councillor Jerry Mamatela be removed.
"Mashiya is the face of the ANC in government, she should be suspended and disciplinary should be taken against her both politically and administratively. Thulo does not do his job and is unqualified. Since he joined the municipality it has never been stable," said Joel Mokone, who led the protest.
Protesters also demanded that Mamatela should choose between being a school teacher or a ward councilor.
They also accused former administrator Kadimo Masekoane of failing to account for R25-million the municipality received from the Treasury.
Pule Motseki, of the office of Premier Ace Magashule, and Chana Moeletsi from the municipality promised to send the grievances to the relevant people.
Call to sack 'corrupt officials'
MORE than 300 ANC members and residents of Khotsong in Bothaville, Free State, staged protests at the cash-strapped Nala municipality's offices yesterday.
They are demanding the immediate removal of all municipal employees allegedly implicated in fraud and corruption, including the speaker Nozililo Mashiya.
The protests came after a damning audit report by KPMG which uncovered a litany of irregularities within the municipality.
The municipality serves the poverty-stricken towns of Bothaville, Wesselsbron and surrounding areas.
Investigators uncovered a slew of fraud incidents and corrupt activities which also involved 51 companies that secured tenders from the local authority.
The report revealed that, between July 2009 and May 2010, Mashiya allegedly spent R11489 to buy liquor with the municipality's credit card.
Mashiya earlier told Sowetan that the matter was sub judice but declared her willingness to cooperate with the probe .
The municipality was placed under administration by the provincial government in 2009 as a result of "massive" mismanagement. The municipality cannot generate revenue despite R6-million spent to improve the system.
Last week, municipal manager David Shongwe was suspended after it was found that he was involved in the allegations. Former technical services director, Sidwell Nxumalo, resigned before he could be suspended.
Shongwe was suspended after municipality employees went on strike calling for his removal.
Yesterday, demonstrators demanded that Mashiya, internal auditor Thulo Majoe, and councillor Jerry Mamatela be removed.
"Mashiya is the face of the ANC in government, she should be suspended and disciplinary should be taken against her both politically and administratively. Thulo does not do his job and is unqualified. Since he joined the municipality it has never been stable," said Joel Mokone, who led the protest.
Protesters also demanded that Mamatela should choose between being a school teacher or a ward councilor.
They also accused former administrator Kadimo Masekoane of failing to account for R25-million the municipality received from the Treasury.
Pule Motseki, of the office of Premier Ace Magashule, and Chana Moeletsi from the municipality promised to send the grievances to the relevant people.
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