By Sihle Mavuso
A leaked internal invoice has revealed how the cash-strapped Nongoma local municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal paid R2-million for a 10-day forensic investigation conducted in June this year.
The investigation was around the activities of the former municipal manager (MM), chief financial officer (CFO) and supply chain manager who were arrested earlier this year.
Noticeable regarding the invoice from the Tongaat-based forensic company is that the NFP-ANC-EFF-run municipality paid it without asking questions, despite glaring red flags.
One of these was how employees’ time sheets attached by the company indicated that at some point they worked for 20 hours a day without taking a break.
Also, the company did not follow the basic guidelines of breaking down an invoice for a client. Instead, it just said “forensic investigation” and billed the municipality.
The invoice was signed off by Brian Dube, who is now the acting CFO. At the time Dube was the manager for expenditure.
Also adding their signatures on the eyebrow-raising invoice were Sipho Nkosi, the former acting MM and Bhekokunye Menyuka, the former acting CFO – both left the municipality after a court ruled against the extension of their contracts.
The mayor of the municipality, Clifford Ndabandaba, did not respond when Scrolla.Africa asked him about the invoice.
The municipality is in the spotlight after the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs took it to the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The department wants to set aside its decision to appoint Dube as acting CFO and Nhlakanipho Zulu as acting MM, saying they do not possess the qualifications and experience to hold the positions, and their presence would further worsen Nongoma’s financial standing.
Pictured above: Nongoma municipality paid R2-million without asking questions.
Source: Facebook
