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tender scam claims

CRITICISED: Mayor Balekile Mzangwa. Pic. Peter Mogaki. 30/05/04. © Sowetan.
CRITICISED: Mayor Balekile Mzangwa. Pic. Peter Mogaki. 30/05/04. © Sowetan.

Nkosana Lekotjolo

Nkosana Lekotjolo

Opposition parties say the ANC-led Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality, one of the poorest areas in South Africa, is "protecting" its senior officials who are allegedly involved in serious tender scandals.

The DA, PAC and Dikwankwetla Party of SA accuse mayor Balekile Mzangwa of preventing the auditor-general's special report on procurement from being discussed in council.

"We've been kept in the dark about the auditor-general's special report. It's outrageous that a year after the report was completed it still hasn't been brought before the council. This indicates that some top shots are being shielded by the ANC," DA councillor Leona Kleyhans told Sowetan.

Mzangwa refused to comment on the AG's special report. He, however, denied allegations that he was covering up for ANC members implicated in tender irregularities.

President Thabo Mbeki last year identified the municipality in QwaQwa, Free State, as a nodal point earmarked for development because of the high levels of unemployment and poverty.

The municipality is embroiled in allegations ranging from financial mismanagement to irregularities in the tendering process. The auditor-general was called in to investigate the procurement deals that took place between 2003 and 2004.

"It baffles us that no councillors implicated in the auditor-general's report have resigned or been suspended," said Moeketsi Lebesa of the DPSA.

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