– The DA backs the arrest of Maruleng municipal officials, but arrests alone are not accountability — cases must be properly prosecuted and convictions secured where guilt is proved.
– Despite a number of arrests across Limpopo, the DA could verify only a handful of recent convictions of municipal officials.
– Municipal corruption steals services, investment and jobs.
The Democratic Alliance in Limpopo backs the arrest yesterday of employees of the Maruleng Local Municipality, in connection with alleged fraud, corruption, theft, and money laundering and calls for a thorough investigation and, where the evidence warrants it, prosecution and conviction where guilt is proved.
According to a statement issued by the Hawks, Maruleng officials were diverting building plan application fees into personal banking accounts instead of into the municipality’s account. Indications are that the municipality suffered a loss of R 1 160 844.98
Despite a number of arrests of municipal officials across Limpopo, very few appear to end in successful prosecutions. The DA could verify only a handful of convictions of municipal officials in recent years, including three former municipal officials convicted in VBS-related cases — all of whom received wholly suspended prison sentences.
The prolonged case involving Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni demonstrates this point. Allegations concerning an approximately R2.5 million tender date back to her tenure as Municipal Manager of Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality. More than two years after the Hawks initially referred the matter to the NPA, a decision on prosecution has still not been announced.
Recent cases illustrate the scale of the issue.
Earlier this month, the Blouberg Municipal Manager, Refilwe Ramothwala, was arrested in connection with an investigation into an allegedly irregular municipal security-services tender and faces 73 charges, including fraud, theft and money laundering. Ramothwala previously served as Municipal Manager of Maruleng, where he was suspended in August 2015 over allegations of misconduct before later joining Blouberg.
Also this month, a service provider to Mogalakwena Local Municipality was arrested in connection with an alleged R45 million fraud, corruption and money-laundering investigation, with the Hawks indicating that further arrests are expected.
Earlier this year, senior officials at Molemole Local Municipality were arrested by the Hawks as part of an alleged fraud and corruption investigation into municipal procurement. The investigation subsequently widened, and further arrests followed.
Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality has also seen arrests this year, including that of a former Legal Manager and, more recently, officials attached to the Marble Hall Driving Licence Testing Centre in connection with an alleged cash-for-driving-licences scheme.
The DA welcomes these arrests. But arrests alone are not accountability.
Limpopo must see these cases properly investigated and prosecuted without delay.
An arrest makes headlines, but a conviction and real consequences establish accountability.
Municipal corruption is not victimless. Every rand stolen is a rand that cannot repair roads, maintain water and sanitation infrastructure, keep electricity networks functioning or provide the basic services residents depend on.
It also damages local economies. Functioning and accountable municipalities are essential to creating the conditions in which businesses can invest, grow and create jobs.
Municipalities themselves must not simply wait for the criminal justice system to act. Where sufficient evidence of misconduct exists, internal disciplinary action and consequence management must follow.
Limpopo does not need another cycle of allegations, arrests and cases that disappear into the system.
It needs prosecutions where the evidence warrants them, convictions where guilt is proved, public money recovered and consequences that deter the next corrupt official.