The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane demands that the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) comes clean on their leader’s alleged involvement in Tshwane tender rigging.
Last month, the name of EFF leader Julius Malema was cited in testimony at the Madlanga Commission as having possibly interfered in tender rigging in Tshwane.
In WhatsApp exchanges between sergeant Fannie Nkosi and Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi mention is made to “Juju CIC” preselecting the beneficiaries of a security tender.
The EFF has avoided the issue, but this week suddenly became very animated about a report of maladministration in Tshwane to which the party had inside access.
The matter relates to the appointment of Moshema Mosia, an experienced firefigther, as head of the Tshwane Emergency Services department in 2023.
The Public Protector has found that the advertisement of the position was defective, but that Mosia complies with all of the requirements of the position. No finding has been made against him.
While ignoring the beam in their own eye, the EFF wants to use the report as pretext for going after both Mosia and Tshwane City Manager, Johann Mettler.
While corrective action must be taken in light of the Public Protectors’ finding, the truth is that the EFF have had it in it for Mettler from the outset.
Whatever criticism can be levelled against Mettler, he presents an immovable object in the way of the EFF’s corrupt business model, and that’s why they want to get rid of him.
This model has been demonstrated in the looting of VBS Bank and documented in meticulous detail by investigative reporting, including in a recent book on Malema’s patronage network authored by Micah Reddy and Pauli van Wyk.
Equally, Mosia is well known as a tough taskmaster who does not allow the trade unions to usurp the management of his department.
There is every reason to believe people with grievances against Mosia have run to the EFF to do their duplicitous bidding, especially since Mosia has won a number of labour cases brought against him.
The DA notes that the Public Protector report must serve in Tshwane’s Council within 90 days, and that it makes recommendations which must be implemented. We look forward to this report.
However, what is good for the goose, is good for the gander, and so the EFF must provide an account of the alleged involvement of their own leaders in far worse cases of unlawful conduct in Tshwane.