By Sihle Mavuso
Another scandal has rocked the ANC-run eThekwini Metro after an audit found that some contractors repairing structures damaged in the April 2022 flood were paid more than the amounts budgeted and agreed to.
The metro is already embroiled in a R320 million Durban Solid Waste in which its former mayor and 21 others have been charged with corruption.
In the latest scandal, Scrolla.Africa can reveal that an internal audit report of the Department of Parks and Recreation has recommended that some employees be questioned over their decision to pay more than the amount some contractors were initially supposed to get.
The internal audit committee flagged repairs to a community hall in Dassenhoek and others that were damaged during the floods.
After tenders to repair the halls were issued and work completed, the committee went to the ground to inspect the work done.
The committee recorded it was shocked to find that some officials signed off to sub-standard work and then made payments.
That did not end there as some contractors got more money despite their shoddy work – in some cases, many times the amount initially agreed upon.
For example, the audit committee reported that Durant Velile Joint Venture was awarded a tender of R250,000 but that the company later invoiced R689,935.31.
In another case in the report, the Makhathini Imvusa Trading Joint Venture was awarded a tender for R800 000.00, but later the company invoiced for R977,009.09. The invoice was paid out without any questions.
The audit committee has since asked City Manager Musa Mbhele and others to demand answers from the employees who allowed this.
“Obtain reasons, as well as supporting documents, for projects that significantly exceeded the allocated budget to avoid recurrence in future,” reads one of the many recommendations of the report.
Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the matter is being handled internally and consequence management will be implemented where applicable.
“We will not discuss the merits of the matter while internal processes are currently being implemented. Therefore, we caution against leaking internal audit documents while due internal processes are underway,” she said.
ActionSA in the council has written to the head of the internal investigation unit, Jimmy Ngcobo, to investigate this matter further.
Pictured above: An excerpt of the report noting the overpayments.
Source: Sceenshot
