Butterworth-based Mnquma Local Municipality has welcomed the decision by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to not proceed with their investigation. These investigations were instituted based on allegations made in a widely circulated petition which alleged nepotism, corruption, and misappropriation of funds by incumbent municipal manager, Silumko Mahlasela.
The SIU cited insufficient information to support the allegations in its decision.
Mthatha Express has seen a letter from SIU provincial head, Zodwa Xesibe, to Mnquma Local Municipality municipal manager, Silumko Mahlasela, which confirms that the unit will not be applying for a presidential proclamation to probe the matter further.
“The SIU Case Assessment Committee (CAC) perused documents submitted by your good office, as well as documents submitted by the whistleblower. The assessment process has been completed and considering the results of the assessment, the SIU will not be proceeding with this matter.”
“There is insufficient information available to support the allegations levelled against the municipality by the whistleblower and, therefore, the SIU will not be motivating for a proclamation to be issued by the president,” read Xesibe’s letter.
The SIU report on the decision was tabled before council during a special council meeting on August 30. The municipality said it was vindicated by the SIU decision, as it always maintained that the allegations made in the petition were baseless and unfounded.
“The municipality is vindicated by the decision of the SIU as it was always the municipality’s stance that these baseless and unfounded allegations were manufactured to distract us from our main focus, that of service delivery to the citizens of Mnquma,” said municipal spokesperson Loyiso Mpalantshane.
Mpalantshane added that the municipality’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) has been tasked with investigating and instituting disciplinary measures against all those who leaked sensitive municipal information to validate the malicious and frivolous petition.
The petition, which surfaced in May this year from unknown individuals calling themselves the Mnquma Community, resulted in a week-long shutdown, which affected businesses and schools around Butterworth in June.
