PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Following the release of a damning forensic report that highlighted irregularities within Bitou Municipality, ranging from allegations involving a scheme to "siphon" money from municipal coffers under the guise of Grants in Aide to underqualified senior staff, municipal manager Lonwabo Ngoqo has assured residents that each allegation in the report will be investigated.
"Any person found to have contravened the law and/or policies will be taken to task based on the recommendations provided by our legal team," Ngoqo said.
The forensic investigation was conducted under the auspices of the Western Cape government into irregularities within the municipality.
Ngoqo said that after the report was served on the municipality on 6 December last year, they appointed attorneys Mosdell, Pama & Cox and Boqwana Burns to act in the matter. "They are independent and experienced attorneys who specialise in public administration and forensic investigations.
They were asked to assess the report and provide recommendations on the way forward, in line with the process set out in legislation. It is paramount that the rule of law be followed in all respects," Ngoqo said in a statement.
He added that the attorneys' mandate consisted of developing a plan to respond to the report, attend to the findings and recommendations recorded in it and to develop the report aligned with the process plan.
"A process plan was prepared by the attorneys and the Bitou municipal council dealt with the forensic report and the process plan in an ordinary council meeting on 3 February."
He said that due to the contents of the report, the municipality was required to keep it confidential until such time that the allegations contained in it had been tested and confirmed.
"It would be incorrect for Bitou Municipality to release such a report to the general public without first confirming its correctness as there could be severe ramifications for persons mentioned therein who have not yet been subjected to due process."
Ngoqo said they want to assure ratepayers that the municipality takes the allegations in the report seriously and would "investigate each matter properly".
He further said that he is willing to meet with the Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers' Association to discuss the implementation of the advice given.
"Bitou Municipality has a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and corruption, but it must take reasonable steps within the bounds of the laws that control it. We request that the ratepayers remain patient with the municipality as it takes the necessary steps to properly assess the issues in compliance with legislation and policy."
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