KZN COGTA TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY ULUNDI MUNICIPALITY

KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) can confirm that it has received complaints from two political parties in the province about alleged abuse of public funds by Ulundi local municipality and the department has taken a decision to investigate this matter as it does with every reported allegation of wrongdoing.

We have received protestations from the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) about an advertorial in Monday’s edition of Ilanga Newspaper allegedly paid with municipal funds but featuring a political rally of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), which runs Ulundi municipality.

The department will conduct a preliminary investigation to ascertain whether uLundi municipality used municipal funds for what appears to be a promotion of a party political activity. KZN Cogta has previously acted against municipalities where similar allegations were proven right in investigations.

As the Department we view these allegation in a very serious light, we have commenced with a process of verifying these allegations with a view to decide whether there is a need for a full scale investigation on them

As Cogta, we are concerned about these allegations of large scale abuse of public funds. We want to assure communities that we will not hesitate to act to investigate and institute civil recovery processes to recover monies incurred though reckless and fruitless expenditure. We will also approach the courts if necessary.

Statement issued by KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 19 October 2017