The buck stops somewhere

THE news that provincial government has finally intervened to investigate widespread allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption at the City of uMhlathuze was hailed by ratepayers, political parties and analysts this week.

While the probe is bound to temporarily remedy glaring problems in the tender awarding system, one has to evaluate what really transpires after the outcome of such an investigation.

Startling allegations of nepotism, recruitment of staff without appropriate qualifications and/or experience and unauthorised usage of municipal vehicles, have been made.

Independent probes by consultants in the past have indicated the source of the problem, the culprits behind the scandal and mapped the way forward.

However, the implicated officials and Councillors either got off unscathed or the report never saw the light of the day to the outrage of the public and political opponents.

It is ironic that ratepayers foot the bill but are not privy to the outcome.

Someone has to take responsibility for his/her actions.

Countless investigations will be futile unless action is taken against those who instigate corrupt practices.

The reality is that ratepayers suffer the brunt of maladministration.

Investigations that pinpoint the source to no avail translate into poor service delivery on the ground.

Forty-four contracts awarded between 2004 and 2008 at uMhlathuze remain incomplete.

Will the outcome of an investigation bring relief?

The problem is not just common to the City.

Further north at the embattled Mtubatuba Municipality, an administrator appointed by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs during the past three years, has been unable to bring order to the municipality’s affairs.

Functionality is ‘zero’ at the municipality according to the administrator, who stated that the intervention had not achieved much because of ineffectiveness at both management and political levels.

Will another forensic probe bring relief?

The buck must stop somewhere and the longer individuals are allowed to advance their own agendas to the detriment of the poorest of the poor, local government will continue to be plagued by the scourge of corruption.

COGTA MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has given her investigation team just one month to complete their findings after which the uMhlathuze Council will be afforded 21 days to respond to the probe.

It is about time we got some answers!