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Tender irregularity probe hits snags

Sakhile Mokoena

Sakhile Mokoena

Former senior managers of the disbanded Bohlabela district municipality have escaped being penalised for issuing tenders a day before the municipality was dissolved by resigning before the investigation into their conduct could get under way.

The senior managers of the defunct municipality were reportedly investigated in connection with allegations that they fraudulently issued tenders worth more than R100million.

The municipality, which was dissolved before the March 1 local-government elections last year, reportedly issued the tenders on February 28.

Rodwell Mnisi, the former municipality's manager, resigned before the enquiry into the alleged irregularities was instituted.

A team led by the municipal managers of Limpopo's Mopani and Mpumalanga's Ehlanzeni district municipalities investigated the allegations that the tenders were awarded to companies owned either by friends and by members of the families of the former municipal officials.

At the time of the investigation, a spokesman for the provincial Department of Local Government and Housing said the investigation would investigate whether correct procedures were followed in the issuing of the tenders.

Sam Ngubane, a chief director of Mpumalanga's Department of Local Government and Housing, said the inquiry was finished and its reports had been submitted to the two the MECs for local government and housing in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

"The former municipal manager was supposed to account for the irregularities, but unfortunately he resigned before the investigation," said Ngubane.

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