The DA in eThekwini calls on Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda to explain his involvement in the city defying a court interdict awarding a defective tender.

According to a News24 report, Xmoor Transport is accusing Kaunda and senior officials of contempt of court.

The DA previously welcomed Xmoor Transport's court action, which barred the municipality from awarding a contentious R90 million water tanker to businesses that the Appels Authority concluded had submitted defective bids.

Employees were allegedly asked to ignore the court and implement the R90 million tender, according to an affidavit provided by a whistleblower within the city. The person also stated that they were forced to pay the five companies engaged in the deal because the ANC needed money for the Nasrec conference.

Leaked payment schedules show that between December 19 and January 6, eThekwini defied the courts and paid one of the companies, Ikhambi Trading, nearly R6 million, despite the fact that the court's judgement prohibiting the municipality from implementing the contract also barred it from making payments to the companies chosen for the tender.

Should the mayor fail to explain himself, the DA will write to the eThekwini City Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU) to investigate the alleged payments made to the five companies in question.

The evidence provided casts serious doubts on mayor and his colleagues, who stand accused.

Criminal elements continue to plague the eThekwini Municipality under ANC leadership. As things stand, former Mayor Zandile Gumede is facing a slew of charges, including fraud and corruption.

Several employees are now facing charges of fraud and corruption after allegedly being pressured by politicians to authorize unlawful payments.

Now, the current city mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, has allegedly been accused of insisting that municipal officials pay service providers in order for the ANC to get funds for the party's electoral conference, which will be held at Nasrec in Johannesburg in December 2022.

The DA has issued numerous comments exposing the ANC's corruption, maladministration, and ineffectiveness, and the Auditor General has also issued damning findings exposing irregular expenditure of at least R1.5 billion. However, the ANC continues to disregard the red flags, handing the city's administration to a corrupt mayor.

 

Issued by Councillor Thabani Mthethwa - DA eThekwini Caucus Leader