Mayor promises to address eThekwini issues

2011-07-30 10:01

Durban - The eThekwini municipality was dealing with concerns raised by Auditor General Terence Nombembe during his 2009/2010 report, mayor James Nxumalo said on Friday.

"We have agreed on an action plan to deal with the issues raised by Nombembe," he said.

Nxumalo was addressing a meeting of mayors of 19 municipalities that were fingered in Nombembe's 2009/10 report for wasteful expenditure.

They were summoned by Co-operative Governance MEC Nomusa Dube to explain what they were doing to rectify issues mentioned in the report.

A forensic auditing firm was appointed early this year to probe fraud, corruption and maladministration allegations in the eThekwini municipality. The allegations relate to the awarding of tenders.

Nombembe's 2009/10 report indicated R532m had been spent irregularly in the municipality, which runs the city of Durban.

The municipality failed to comply with supply chain management policies for infrastructure and housing projects.

There were also irregularities in the awarding of contracts, payments and performance management of telecommunications.

Nxumalo said his municipality had held a meeting with the auditor general last month where it was agreed to formulate a drastic action plan.

During the meeting, Dube asked each mayor to explain how the municipalities were dealing with the issues raised by Nombembe.

Dube said the aim of the meeting had been to make sure that municipalities complied by submitting financial statements.

- SAPA