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MATSAPHA COUNCIL SAGA: ACC, POLICE ROPED IN

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MATSAPHA - Heads are set to roll in Matsapha Town Council management and former councillors.


This is because the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) have been ordered to tackle criminal issues, which allegedly took place in the council, including that of corruption.


The order was issued by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane, in an implementation matrix, which has been presented to the two law-enforcing agencies, Parliament and council itself.
The minister delivered the implementation matrix to council yesterday through his representative, Gordon Mbuli. This was during the interim council’s inaugural meeting.


In his remarks, the minister said the different recommendations which were made by the Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of Matsapha Town Council had been referred to authorities relevant to deal with them.


According to the implementation matrix, the issues which the ACC and the police have to investigate and implement the law on, include the procurement of the audit services, recruitment of corporate services manager (CSM) and procurement of the legal services tender.


Another matter in which the minister has roped in the law-enforcing agencies, was that of involvement in any corrupt practice during council duties.
In the procurement of the audit services, the commission found no irregularities even though an apparent conflict between the Urban Government Financial Regulations and the Public Procurement Act manifested.


Again, that the conduct of Deputy Chairperson Siphesihle Sibandze and Councillor Musa Ndzimandze during the tendering stages was not convincing.
The commission also found that there were some irregularities during the procurement process where the Town Clerk, Lucky Sukati, attempted to usurp the powers of council by trying to move a motion through a councillor, who was former Deputy Chairman Sibandze. The ministry’s position was that Councillors Sibandze and Ndzimandze be sanctioned and that police had to look into the matter.


However, it was noted that the ministry and police could no longer sanction them because the matter had been overtaken by events.


Tackle


On the other hand, the ACC has been given a green light to tackle the matter.  Regarding the recruitment of the CSM, Princess Kholwaphi, the commission found that council ended up usurping the powers of the consultant they hired to do the conscription.
Again, in its findings, the commission said it appeared that the eventual winner had a relationship with former Chairman Sandlane Zwane, who was part of the recruitment panel but he never declared his interest.


Furthermore, the commission said it found alleged fraudulent misrepresentation to council by the incumbent CSM on her academic qualifications.
On that note, the commission recommended that the academic credentials of the incumbent CSM should be evaluated and that the matter should be referred to appropriate authorities.

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