Probe into Polokwane municipal officials’ alleged corruption ongoing

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The probe into municipal officials allegedly involved in corruption and irregular payments of ghost workers at Polokwane municipality in Limpopo has not yet been finalised. The probe was instituted after a forensic investigation uncovered corruption amounting to R17 million.

The forensic report revealed that the officials allegedly siphoned off funds while procuring the city’s buses and also paid overtime payments to ghost workers.

The Bowman-Gilfillan 2022 report, tabled before the council last year implicated two senior officials, the CFO and Director for Monitoring and Evaluation. It revealed that the two allegedly flaunted supply chain management processes during the procurement of city buses, called Leeto la Polokwane.

The report also revealed that the municipality suffered millions in losses due to irregular payments of ghost workers. Nearly two years after the revelations, those implicated are yet to be taken to task. Polokwane Mayor, John Mpe says the outcomes of the final investigations will be tabled before the council soon.

“At the moment we have acted on the interim report where you have seen people being suspended including the former CFO and so on but the final report is coming out and they will be what you call council dedicated it jus that there are challenges that we have it is going to be a close session in terms of ghost workers is part of the investigations we are making progress including the issue of 1.6 million irregular expenditure we are having investigations through MPEC.”

Mpe has cancelled tenders for low maintenance services. Mpe says the decision was taken due to alleged sabotage of the municipal services by contractors to win tenders with the municipality.

Mpe says residents can expect interrupted water supply while water infrastructure is being upgraded. He says the disruption is being caused by a water project by Lepelle Northern Water.

The Mayor says once the project is complete, residents will have adequate water supply.

Mpe has defended the recent increase of municipal tariffs by 30%. He says the increase was decided upon by the National Energy Regulator to increase electricity.

Mpe says they are working to finisalise outstanding projects such as the Mankweng, Seshego and Polokwane stadia.

The projects have been at a standstill for over three years now.