A LAW firm appointed to investigate corruption in the cash-strapped Nala local municipality has recommended that the fleet manager be removed from his post.
A letter sent to the municipality by Mabalane Seobi Incorporated on May 3 recommends that Benjamin Mokalake be suspended. A copy of the letter has also been directed to the manager.
Mokalake is accused of gross negligence. Allegedly, 207 vehicles that did not belong to the municipality were allowed to use R160000 worth of fuel - irregularly using a council's signed petrol book.
"You were specifically responsible that municipality vehicles were fuelled, you failed to ensure this, thus causing vehicles that do not belong to the municipality to be fuelled," the letter reads.
Mokalake is also accused of gross misconduct in that he allegedly channelled money destined for temporary workers into his own bank account. In so doing, he had contravened the municipality's payroll system and the Municipal Finance Management Act.
He also reportedly failed to alert the relevant authorities about activities relating to the theft of petrol.
It is also alleged that between January 22 and 30 he paid out R16,000 in petrol claims for vehicles that were not operating, while some did not exist.
Earlier this year, Sowetan published an article about claims made for purchasing petrol for "washing machines".
Signatures of "dead" employees were also used to claim for fuel.
The investigations were launched after Sowetan ran a series of articles about corruption and mismanagement of funds in the municipality.
Mokalake told Sowetan yesterday that he knew nothing about the allegations and stressed that he was not corrupt. "I am telling you I am not corrupt. I am not aware of the allegations. I am clean and my colleagues are aware of that. This is a smear campaign by some employee whom I know. The man is destroying my image and has launched false accusations about me," he said.
Mokalake said he had not been informed that he was been investigated and has been reporting for duty as normal. "If I am corrupt, why can't I be arrested."
Provincial department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Senne Bogatsu said: "The matter has been investigated and concluded internally and is being handled further. We cannot comment further as it issub judice."
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela announced last month that her office was investigating allegations of corruption in the municipality.
Madonsela intervened after concerned residents of Monyakeng in Wesselsbron wrote to her about their plight, demanding urgent intervention. The residents complained about poor service delivery despite millions of rands wasted by the municipality on futile projects.
The public protector is in possession of the KPMG forensic report which revealed massive corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of funds.
Senior officials of the municipality are implicated.
Madonsela said she had a list of all those implicated and would ask the municipality about what action had been taken against them.
The report revealed that companies were paid large sums of money for unfinished project.
Employees reportedly defrauded the municipality of more than R160000 between 2007 and 2009.
Former mayor Mpai Mohorosi is accused of fraudulently using R234000 to build a wall at her private house. According to the report, her vehicle, worth R600000, was bought through questionable procedures.
Current speaker Nozililo Mashiya is also implicated in the unprocedural use of the municipality's credit card to buy liquor worth R11489.
Official fingered in fuel scam
A LAW firm appointed to investigate corruption in the cash-strapped Nala local municipality has recommended that the fleet manager be removed from his post.
A letter sent to the municipality by Mabalane Seobi Incorporated on May 3 recommends that Benjamin Mokalake be suspended. A copy of the letter has also been directed to the manager.
Mokalake is accused of gross negligence. Allegedly, 207 vehicles that did not belong to the municipality were allowed to use R160000 worth of fuel - irregularly using a council's signed petrol book.
"You were specifically responsible that municipality vehicles were fuelled, you failed to ensure this, thus causing vehicles that do not belong to the municipality to be fuelled," the letter reads.
Mokalake is also accused of gross misconduct in that he allegedly channelled money destined for temporary workers into his own bank account. In so doing, he had contravened the municipality's payroll system and the Municipal Finance Management Act.
He also reportedly failed to alert the relevant authorities about activities relating to the theft of petrol.
It is also alleged that between January 22 and 30 he paid out R16,000 in petrol claims for vehicles that were not operating, while some did not exist.
Earlier this year, Sowetan published an article about claims made for purchasing petrol for "washing machines".
Signatures of "dead" employees were also used to claim for fuel.
The investigations were launched after Sowetan ran a series of articles about corruption and mismanagement of funds in the municipality.
Mokalake told Sowetan yesterday that he knew nothing about the allegations and stressed that he was not corrupt. "I am telling you I am not corrupt. I am not aware of the allegations. I am clean and my colleagues are aware of that. This is a smear campaign by some employee whom I know. The man is destroying my image and has launched false accusations about me," he said.
Mokalake said he had not been informed that he was been investigated and has been reporting for duty as normal. "If I am corrupt, why can't I be arrested."
Provincial department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Senne Bogatsu said: "The matter has been investigated and concluded internally and is being handled further. We cannot comment further as it issub judice."
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela announced last month that her office was investigating allegations of corruption in the municipality.
Madonsela intervened after concerned residents of Monyakeng in Wesselsbron wrote to her about their plight, demanding urgent intervention. The residents complained about poor service delivery despite millions of rands wasted by the municipality on futile projects.
The public protector is in possession of the KPMG forensic report which revealed massive corruption, maladministration and mismanagement of funds.
Senior officials of the municipality are implicated.
Madonsela said she had a list of all those implicated and would ask the municipality about what action had been taken against them.
The report revealed that companies were paid large sums of money for unfinished project.
Employees reportedly defrauded the municipality of more than R160000 between 2007 and 2009.
Former mayor Mpai Mohorosi is accused of fraudulently using R234000 to build a wall at her private house. According to the report, her vehicle, worth R600000, was bought through questionable procedures.
Current speaker Nozililo Mashiya is also implicated in the unprocedural use of the municipality's credit card to buy liquor worth R11489.