The Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mzi Khumalo, is shielding corrupt activities in Emfuleni by saying that millions of rands have been spent on procuring generators for the municipality instead of leasing them. It has been claimed that the over R15 million paid to service providers was to buy generators.
During an oral reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) regarding the leasing of generators by Emfuleni Local Municipality, MEC Khumalo indicated that the invoices that he was asked about related to the procurement of generators and not the leasing of generators.
However, when the Democratic Alliance (DA) tabled further follow-up questions , the Emfuleni Local Municipality indicated that no new generators had been procured within the last five financial years.
This is contrary to what MEC Khumalo indicated when asked about the procurement of generators.
It is worrying that the two spheres of government do not know what the other is doing, which could potentially lead to corruption and a breakdown in service delivery. It is unacceptable that millions of rands are spent on generators, yet the Emfuleni Municipality and COGTA cannot give a concrete answer regarding the total cost of money spent on this item.
The DA demands that MEC Khumalo provide proof of the generators purchased as a matter of urgency.