Mayor quits amid accusations

2003-03-17 14:06

Delmas - Controversial Delmas mayor Juby Makhabane has decided to resign after two years of accusations of fraud, nepotism and abuse of power.

Makhabane's unceremonious exit from the hot seat is believed to have been orchestrated by African National Congress top brass in Mpumalanga and several phone conversations with provincial secretary Lucas Mello.

The mayor is accused, among other things, of pilfering about R180 000 from the mayoral fund and using his influence to irregularly promote his girlfriend and secretary, Joyce Tholo, to a post as assistant administrator about two years ago.

Makhabane's latest offence was awarding a R36 000 Christmas bonus to municipal manager and personal friend Teffo Kadi on December 24, despite a council resolution forbidding the payment.

The council was in recess when Makhabane instructed deputy finance director Sakkie Reynders to pay the money, which is 10% of Kadi's annual salary.

Local government MEC Mohammed Bhabha has ruled that the payment was irregular and has ordered the council to recover the money.

Numerous complaints

Makhabane confirmed he had resigned on Thursday. He argued, however, that proper procedures were not followed when a forensic audit was instituted to uncover the alleged financial irregularities.

Makhabane said local government ignored an ordinance stipulating that mayoral funds were not subject to an audit.

The forensic report is still to be discussed by local government MEC Mohammed Bhabha and Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu, said local government spokesperson Simphiwe Kunene.

Bhabha ordered the audit after numerous complaints by the Delmas Residents' Committee, which handed a memorandum to the MEC in June last year.

The audit's content, say insiders, prompted the ANC to put pressure on Makhabane to resign.

Mello denied that the ANC's provincial executive forced Makhabane to resign, but conceded they had spoken to him and "his 'conscience' advised him to do that".

"He's done an honourable thing and he has been co-operative," said Mello.

He said Makhabane should be considered "innocent", however, as the ANC had acted on allegations only.

Mello said the party would appoint a new mayor before the end of March.

Makhabane says he used the mayoral fund to help needy people.

"I can't even remember the people I helped, some were students who left Delmas long ago," he said. "I was only signing cheques."

'Should have been charged'

He insisted he had not broken any laws, "but I won't fight the ANC. I'm loyal to the party".

Delmas Residents' Committee chair Slash Setenyane said Makhabane should not only resign as mayor, but also as a councillor so that he would be completely out of the municipality.

"Our concern is that Bhabha's office is too slow, the R36 000 issue could have been avoided if he acted swiftly," he said.

He added that Makhabane should have been charged for the unauthorised expenditure.

Delmas municipality speaker Jabu Ngoma said the council would decide on March 25 how it would recover the money.

Democratic Alliance councillor Barry Chamberlain said: "I feel sorry for the mayor, but if true democratic principles were adhered to, he wouldn't have to abdicate in this way." - African Eye News Service

- News24