Lungani Zungu
UMngeni municipal manager Thembeka Cibane is still clinging onto her job, despite a damning Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report directly linking her to the R20 million Covid-19 relief scandal.
A month after the report was released, political parties are pressuring the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Sipho Hlomuka, to suspend Cibane with immediate effect.
According to the SIU, the taxpayers’ money was meant for Covid-19 relief for the destitute people under the uMngeni local municipality, which falls under the uMgungundlovu District.
The investigators found that Cibane, who was appointed municipal manager in 2017, had irregularly authorised R19,950,000 for Covid-19 relief.
A local NGO Sithuthukisa Abantu slammed MEC Hlomuka.
“He is dancing around the issue of Cibane. He must suspend her. That is the only reprieve for the poor people she robbed,” said Thulani Cele, founding member of the NGO.
He accused some councillors in the municipal council of protecting Cibane.
“It’s now clear that she was not alone in this scandal. Maybe the people who are shielding her were also part of the scandal.”
The SIU recommended that criminal charges be opened against Cibane and for her to appear before a disciplinary hearing.
The IFP has called on Cogta MEC Hlomuka to implement the recommendations.
“The process must be expedited without any further delay. The buck stops with the MEC,” said the IFP’s Bonginkosi Kunene.
“It is shocking that while we are busy waging war against Covid-19, people who are trusted to safeguard the public purse are taking advantage of these dire circumstances to line their pockets,” said Kunene.
Cibane flatly refused to talk to Scrolla.Africa.
Image source: News24
