The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is appalled by the revelations from a recent forensic report concerning audit and legal work shenanigans at the Mhlathuze Water Board in KwaZulu-Natal.
According to media reports, the board allegedly paid a staggering R38 million to a Durban-based lawyer and acting judge, Sthembiso Ralph Mhlanga, for compiling reports and rendering legal services. Mhlanga is found to have provided 620 audit documents, some of which are alleged to be fabricated, a project which investigators are convinced could have been compressed into one dossier and conducted by the water utility’s employees at no cost. At some point, Mhlanga, through his company, Mhlanga Inc, claimed a whopping R21 million for what are reported to be copy and paste reports.
These transactions are an indictment to the country’s efforts to curb corruption. Those responsible for the procurement and payment of these documents at Mhlathuze Water Board deserve nothing less than to face the full might of the law.
It appears that water boards in KZN are no strangers to patterns of corruption and questionable governance. Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of corruption and maladministration in the affairs of the Umgeni Water Board (UWB) and to recover any financial losses suffered by the state through corruption and negligence. This was related to two contracts, one for security and guarding services and the other for Social Facilitation and Community Engagement for the UWB Infrastructure Projects for a period of five years.
The country’s water boards are mandated to provide water services to other institutions, ultimately supplying this much needed resource to communities. Residents cannot afford to bear the brunt of unscrupulous officials who partner with alleged criminals in business dealings.
COSATU calls on the (SIU) to investigate these allegations of irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by Mhlathuze Water Board. No stone should be left unturned in bringing those responsible for this criminal act to book.
The Federation remains convinced that these entities are a feeding ground for corruption and need to be integrated back into the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure they are held accountable, and the culture of wild west looting and anarchy is crushed.
Issued by COSATU
For more information, please contact:
Zanele Sabela (COSATU National Spokesperson)
Cell: 079 287 5788
Email: zanele@cosatu.org.za