UMZINYATHI district municipality in Dundee, northern KwaZulu-Natal, remained tight-lipped yesterday about the resignation of the former assistant financial officer amidallegations of graft.

S'buyiselo Mthembu resigned last week amid allegations of tender fraud and corruption amounting to more than R500000.

Sowetan has learnt that Mthembu was fingered for corrupt activities that resulted in the municipality conducting an internal investigation.

But Mthembu resigned before the investigation could be concluded. Before his resignation Mthembu had allegedly been suspended pending the outcome of a forensic investigation.

Contacted for comment, mayor Mbangiseni Yengwa said: "I don't want to comment on that, unless you tell me who gave you the information. You can write whatever you like, but I am not going to comment."

Municipal manager Sipho Dubazane was not available for comment.

Umzinyathi is one of the areas hardest hit by poverty with 75 percent unemployment. - Canaan Mdletshe