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Since the hacking of Moqhaka Local Municipality's ICT system in June 2023, the community continues to bear the brunt of the aftermath. Regrettably, as of now, there is no discernible action plan in place to address and rectify the situation.

During a council meeting convened on Friday, 11 December 2023, the Municipal Manager failed to provide adequate feedback on the matter. The Executive Mayor proposed initiating a costly Forensic Investigation, diverging from the Democratic Alliance's (DA) suggestion to involve the Hawks in the investigation.

In the wake of the ICT disruption, residents grapple with persistent challenges in obtaining updated accounts, resulting in non-reflecting payments. The municipality is currently bereft of financial control, exacerbating the difficulties faced by the community.

The failure to update accounts has led to significant financial losses for the municipality, impeding revenue collection. Disturbingly, it has been alleged that Pursuit Knowledge Consulting Pty Ltd, the contracted company with exclusive access to the system, is embroiled in fraud investigations. Moqhaka confirmed the termination of the contract in October 2023, despite having paid the company a substantial R3.3 million to date.

Compounding the issue, Moqhaka has failed to submit its annual financials on time, as required by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), due to ongoing ICT problems.

The DA will officially file a complaint with the South African Police Services' Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks). This action aims to ensure stringent oversight and a swift resolution to the matter, holding Moqhaka Local Municipality accountable for its failure to serve the community.

Issued by Linda Louwrens - DA Councillor Moqhaka Local Municipality