By Celani Sikhakhane
Former KwaZulu-Natal DA leader, Sizwe Mchunu, has lodged a complaint against Chris Pappas, accusing the uMngeni mayor and DA premier candidate of abusing his position by granting tourism tenders to his fiancé.
On Wednesday, Mchunu wrote a letter to the Public Protector urging an investigation into claims that Pappas’s fiancé, JP Prinsloo, secured the “Light Up uMngeni Festival” tender through his company, Growth Spurts Consultancy (GSC).
“Upon Pappas’s shift from the KZN legislature to the uMngeni Municipality, his fiancée JP Prinsloo also transitioned from eThekwini to uMngeni. Subsequently, Prinsloo chaired the uMngeni Tourism NPO.
“Remarkably, this entity was granted R100,000, in stark contrast to the R10,000 allotted monthly to other similar uMngeni entities,” Mchunu wrote.
He blasted the awarding of the GSC tender as nepotism and corruption.
Pappas has dismissed Mchunu’s claims, pointing out that no tourism tenders have been distributed by uMngeni since he assumed the position of mayor.
In addition, the tender was awarded two years ago, and “the business in question was officially registered merely a month ago. It’s implausible for them to have received tenders two years back as alleged.
“Moreover, uMngeni hasn’t issued any tourism tender,” Pappas stated.
Earlier this week, Mchunu voiced his anger on social media over Pappas’s nomination as a candidate for KZN premier. He criticised the DA for ignoring black leaders for key roles.
Now, as a prominent ANC member in the Moses Mabhida Region, Pietermaritzburg, Mchunu has been appointed by ANC provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala to the board of the Richards Bay Industrial Zone.
Pictured above: uMngeni mayor Chris Pappas faces allegations of nepotism and corruption
Image Source: Twitter
