How long does it take to complete a relatively simple forensic audit? How long should one wait before smelling a rat?

The City of Cape Town expects the public to wait for more than a year and to do so without seeing the delay as a likely cover up.

In mid April 2009, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) invited the then Mayor, Helen Zille to investigate detailed information suggesting malpractice in the award of water meter contracts worth tens of millions of rands. Compounding this information was that the City's favoured meter, unlike its competitors: was not SABS approved; was significantly more expensive and notably less reliable.

Reminded by SAMWU in May last year, that it had not responded to our letter, the City assured us that the matter was subject to forensic investigation. Still further reminders resulted, in August 2009, in the City Manager's information that the audit had ‘commenced' and the assurance that it would be completed by the end of September 2009 at the very latest. By the end of October, the City Manager could do no better than repeat the well-worm refrain about still waiting for the forensic investigation.

SAMWU wrote to Hellen Zille's successor as mayor, Dan Plato, to ensure that he was directly aware of the City's failure to respond to allegations of malpractice and that it was no longer acceptable for his administration to keep saying, after 6 months, that the matter was still being investigated but without any deadline being given. Mr Plato failed to respond to this letter.

Now, a further 6 months later, the Sunday Times has asked the City for the outcome of its investigations into the information SAMWU had provided more than a year earlier ( ‘Probe into R50 million water-meter contacts, ‘ Sunday Times 2 May). The City's answer: it cannot comment as the matter is still subject to a forensic audit!

What does this say about Cape Town's approach to corruption?  What does it say about the DA's attitude? SAMWU demands answers are given immediately.

Is the Cape Town water meter story to be still further evidence of the connection between privatization and corruption?

Statement issued by Tahir Sema, South African Municipal Workers' Union of COSATU, May 6 2010

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