The ANC in Tshwane is calling for the resignation of the Executive Mayor of Tswhane, Mr Solly Mismanga and suspension of the City Municipal Manager, Mr Moeketsi Mosola.
The Tshwane ANC called on the President to sign a declaration to bring Special Investigation Unit (SIU) in the City of Tshwane to investigate the City from 2016 August to date.
The ANC also wants MEC of COGTA to invoke section 139 and place the City of Tshwane under administration and to use section 106 (1) (b) to investigate corruption in the City of Tshwane.
The ANC Tshwane Chairperson, Dr Kgoši Maepa, said Council should suspends the City Manager, Mr Mosola, pending outcomes of the investigation, ask the Executive Mayor Mr Msimanga to resign and the Public Protector to investigate a complaint with regards to illegally appointed of the PMU through Regulation 32.
He said the Auditor General should immediately audit the said illegal appointment of PMU and give an opinion.
The ANC is also preparing charges that will be laid at SAPS in Brooklyn in Tshwane.
The Tswhane ANC is accusing the City Manager, Mr Mosola, of allegedly ignoring advice of the Chief Financial Officer not to appoint a Project Management Unit (PMU) and that he went ahead to appoint the unit against the advice that it would mean that the City will spend money it did not have.
The advice from the CFO stated that if the City Manager went ahead to appoint the PMU, it would compel the City to use Opex (Operational Budget) for Capex (Capital Expenditure), a practice that the ANC said it’s unheard of and illegal.
Dr Maepa said the CFO indicated on his comments that the proposed PMU will reduce the amount of Capital Expenditure budgeted by 10% and as a result he decided not support the approval of the report.
“Even after the CFO and legal opinions declined to support the report, the City Manager went ahead and signed the report to approve it, which is an uncommon practice,” he said.
He said the City Manager went further to force departments to use their Opex (Operational Budget) to fund the PMU and officials were allegedly intimidated with suspensions if they did not support the illegal PMU.
“It is clear that the City Manager and Executive Mayor are inexperienced and grossly incompetent as far as Municipal Finance Management Act and Supply Chain Management processes are concerned,” said Dr Maepe.
In a statement, City Mayor, Mr Msimanga, said he has a duty as the head of the executive, to satisfy himself that all due process has been followed and to decisively address any and all wrongdoing that may have occurred.
This comes after the City Manager released a statement responding to allegations that he had unlawfully appointed a project management service provider.
“I note the City Manager’s statement and will include it in my contemplation on the further steps to follow. While the content of the City Manager’s statement is noted, it does not change the process that must now unfold which is to apply my mind to all the evidence before me and come to a determination on how to proceed moving forward.
“If there is any merit to the allegations about the irregular appointment of the project management service provider; I will not hesitate to refer this matter to the municipal council for further investigation and action,” Mr Msimanga said.