THE Gert Sibande district municipality in Mpumalanga has suspended its disaster management manager in connection with allegations of corruption and theft, misuse of a garage card and council vehicles, and collecting money meant for renting out the local community hall.
Vusi Motha is alleged to have spent R111647 on petrol between September 2011 and June 2012. Over the same period he is alleged to have used a council vehicle allocated to his department to transport his family.
He is also accused of illegally pocketing R19500 from community members who hired a local hall.
Motha, a member of the ANC's Gert Sibande regional executive committee, admitted he was on suspension but denied any wrongdoing. He said was not given notice of the intention to suspend him.
"I could have responded to those allegations," Motha said.
He said his position entailed a lot of travelling, which also required him to be present in areas where there was an emergency.
Motha said when he was appointed to his position in June there were no clear policy guidelines relating to the use of council vehicles. He also denied that he had used council vehicles to transport his family.
He said claims that he took money from the community for hiring a local hall were inaccurate.
Council spokesman Zakhele Shiba declined to comment.
Top council man accused of corruption
THE Gert Sibande district municipality in Mpumalanga has suspended its disaster management manager in connection with allegations of corruption and theft, misuse of a garage card and council vehicles, and collecting money meant for renting out the local community hall.
Vusi Motha is alleged to have spent R111647 on petrol between September 2011 and June 2012. Over the same period he is alleged to have used a council vehicle allocated to his department to transport his family.
He is also accused of illegally pocketing R19500 from community members who hired a local hall.
Motha, a member of the ANC's Gert Sibande regional executive committee, admitted he was on suspension but denied any wrongdoing. He said was not given notice of the intention to suspend him.
"I could have responded to those allegations," Motha said.
He said his position entailed a lot of travelling, which also required him to be present in areas where there was an emergency.
Motha said when he was appointed to his position in June there were no clear policy guidelines relating to the use of council vehicles. He also denied that he had used council vehicles to transport his family.
He said claims that he took money from the community for hiring a local hall were inaccurate.
Council spokesman Zakhele Shiba declined to comment.