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The Congress of South African Trade Unions(COSATU) in the North West province is dismayed by the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality’s inability to complete the construction of a waste water treatment plant due to the redirection of the funds which were allocated to the project. The funds have now been invested into the now defunct VBS bank. 

The Federation has also noted that the Department of Water and Sanitation has subsequently refused to allocate additional funds to this project. 

We support and agree with the department for not allocating additional funds. As a matter of urgency, those who undertook this ill-conceived decision to invest the public money which was meant for service delivery should be held accountable and the process of recovering the money from them should be expedited. 

COSATU has noted that the population of the country has substantially grown and there is a need to expand bulk infrastructure to accommodate the growing population; and this has been derailed by the thuggery of some individuals who believe that they are entitled to public funds. 

It is disappointing that as a province we have not seen any arrests related to the VBS scandal. Law enforcement agencies must prioritize the investigation of VBS related cases. This should be done to close the matter and to allow for national government to start to provide intervention. 

We call on the Premier and the MEC of CoGHTA to immediately attend to all the cases which are related to the VBS, and this must include ensuring that the municipalities in the province are functional. 

Issued by COSATU North West