Metro’s R33-million goes missing… or does it?

By Celani Sikhakhane

The Zululand District Municipality has caused outrage over an alleged missing R33-million after it emerged that the municipal bank account had been hacked.

The minutes of a management meeting on 8 January 2024 stated that on 27 December 2023, an amount of R33-million had been illegally withdrawn from the municipality’s bank account.

It further said that the account had been hacked.

This has led the EFF provincial leadership in KwaZulu-Natal to call for the investigation and the removal of Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

“We note with concern that such a huge amount of money can miraculously disappear from the municipal account without anyone noticing. This is a serious violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act. 

“We further call for the removal of Thulasizwe Buthelezi as we have it in good authority that the IFP is on a mission to abuse municipal funds to fund its manifesto that will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban,” the statement read.

National Freedom Party chief whip in Zululand District Municipality, Siphamandla Ntombela, said that they want a forensic investigation over this scandal. 

He said if there’s any official or political head who is involved he must face legal action and be removed from the municipality. 

Zululand District municipal manager Ntokozo Hlongwa described the allegations as a desperate attempt to derail the service delivery track record of the municipality and its mayor. 

“The statement by the EFF is false because there’s no money that went missing from the municipal coffers,” he said in a statement.

“On 27 December 2023, the municipal manager was alerted by the Absa Anti Fraud Unit about someone who was trying to access the municipal bank account; no funds were lost but a case was opened at Ulundi police station. 

“Absa bank has launched its internal investigation and will wait for the final investigation on this matter.”

Pictured above: EFF is calling for the removal of Zululand District Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi after the alleged disappearance of R33-million from their Absa account.

Image source: X

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