|
Tshwane
| Date: |
05 October 2008 07:00 |
| Producer: |
Susan Purèn
|
| Presenter: |
Devi Sankaree Govender
|
| Show: | Carte Blanche |
Devi Sankaree Govender (Carte Blanche presenter): Five years ago we broadcast a series of programmes that exposed negligence, incompetence, corruption, fraud, and nepotism in the Tshwane Metro Police - all sponsored by ratepayers' money and masked by impenetrable bureaucracy.
[Carte Blanche 19 October 2003] Zaa Nkweta (Carte Blanche presenter): disregard for public money seems to be standard practice.
At the time the Chief of the Metro Police was Commissioner Mpho Mmutle, a man who enjoys fast cars.
[Carte Blanche 29 August 2004] Ruda Landman (Carte Blanche presenter): So he manages to clock 181 km/h in peak traffic on his way to work in town - this despite the fact that a device has been installed in the vehicle to monitor speed.
Devi: The Commissioner and his team awarded a multi-million rand tender for guns to a questionable company.
[Carte Blanche 11 August 2003] Ruda Landman: But Carte Blanche was tipped off that this company only existed on paper.
Devi: The top brass also bought three Volvos for high-speed patrols but then used them for anything but that.
[Carte Blanche 11 October 2003] Ruda: The fact is that Metro Police chief Commissioner Mpho Mmutle has allocated the cars to his three deputies for official use.
Devi: In a press release they claimed a 98% pass rate for a group of 128 new recruits who qualified as traffic officers, but closer examination of the final results showed some creative juggling of the final marks.
[Carte Blanche 11 October 2003] Ruda: Year marks were increased by as much as 16% to bump a candidate up to a pass mark.
Devi: We also established that the legal requirements for Chief Mmutle and his deputies were simply overlooked.
At least one of the deputy chiefs submitted a false CV, mentioning a stint in a SAPS task team for stolen vehicles.
He later denied that he had ever been a policeman.
[Carte Blanche 11 October 2003] Ruda: "What he did admit though, was that he was a close relative of Commissioner Mmutle."
Devi Sankaree Govender (Carte Blanche presenter): "The Council spent hundreds of thousands of rand probing the allegations we'd made. But it was only when forensic auditors, Deloitte, confirmed the allegations that the Council decided to institute disciplinary hearings. The Council then charged several policemen, including Mpho Mmutle."
The events that followed were compiled in a report that has never been made public.
Six charges were leveled against Commissioner Mmutle, but he allegedly struck a deal with his comrades in high places: he would resign if the charges against him were withdrawn.
And so his friend, Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, wrote a letter, recalling Mmutle to the SAPS, where he was made Station Commander at Atteridgeville.
The other Tshwane Metro Police officers who were charged also walked free on technical grounds.
Devi: "Then, last year Council simply got rid of Commissioner Mmutle's successor and advertised the position. Guess who got it? Commissioner Mmutle, of course."
'Jo' (Tshwane Metro employee): "It's quite worrisome - there have been some very serious allegations made against him..."
This man is a senior employee at the Tshwane Metro. He can't be identified, so let's call him 'Jo'.
'Jo': "What is it ... that these people feel that they can actually be employing? Were there no other competent officials within the SAPS? What I am saying is that it is more like 'jobs for pals'."
Barely a week after Commissioner Mmutle took office a second time he was in hot water again.
He'd brought along his secretary from the Atteridgeville police station to his new job.
That's even though 27-year-old Alice Lebelo apparently doesn't even have a typing qualification.
These emails [on screen] tell of how a plan was hastily devised to create a job for her.
Although the Metro would advertise the position of Executive Secretary and interview candidates, the job was already Alice's.
To cover the fraudulent exercise, they would pay her in cash until she was officially appointed.
Kiba Kekana is the Tshwane Metro's eighth Municipal Manager in eight years.
Commissioner Mmutle was re-appointed by him, apparently against the will of Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Tshwane's Executive Mayor.
But the two of them are in no position to reprimand the Commissioner for appointing a former colleague and friend.
They allegedly did the same.
When she took office three years ago, Dr Ramokgopa apparently appointed her friend as her spokesperson.
Kiba Kekana appointed a former colleague, 31-year-old Cecilia Moumakoe, as Executive Head in the private office of the Municipal Manager; his office.
Devi: "A posh job with a posh title. Not bad for a girl with only a diploma in travel and tourism and very little experience; especially when the person who'd held the position before her has a Masters Degree and 20 years of service. So, just what was it about Cecilia that made her so irresistible?"
Cecilia and Kiba's CVs show that they worked together at the South African Local Government Association, SALGA.
She gave him as a reference when she applied for her current job, for which he allegedly then interviewed and appointed her with a salary of around R800 000 a year.
But that's not all...
Devi: "It's no longer an office secret that Cecilia and her boss are in a romantic relationship. The question is, were they in that relationship when she got the job?"
Well, the problem of nepotism is just one of the questions we wanted to ask Dr Ramokgopa and Mr.Kekana, but all we got was the Council's evasive spokesperson.
Voice of Console Tleane (Spokesperson: Tshwane): "I am only going to speak to the mayor and the city manager. "
Voice of Console Tleane: "I am going to try to check their diaries."
Voice of Console Tleane: "So I am saying to you I am going to check with them."
Voice of Console Tleane: "I'll hear from their PAs."
Voice of Console Tleane: "I am saying that I will get advice about her availability."
Voice of Console Tleane: "If the Mayor is available, I'll come back to you."
Devi: "We didn't get the interview. Pity, because they have a lot to answer for."
Cecilia responded late yesterday saying that she didn't have a romantic relationship with Mr Kekana. She said that she was appointed by the Tshwane Metro through proper processes like any other employee.
In the meantime a Tshwane delegation has just returned from America, where they marketed the city's 2010 World Cup Match in Atlanta and New York, and at the South Africa week in Washington DC.
Cecilia addressed the few journalists, saying Tshwane is ready to stage the match.
Cecilia Moumakoe (Executive Head - Tshwane Municipal Manager): "From where I stand, yes - we are ready."
Kennedy Khabo, a South African who lives in the States, is the founder of the South Africa Week, which coincides with the annual American Black Caucus Convention.
Khabo, like Metro Police Chief, Mpho Mmutle, is an old friend of Kiba Kekana. The three of them, as well as Mayor Gwen Ramakgopa, hail from Atteridgeville. According to Khabo's proposal, the South Africa Week provides a platform for leaders to interact at a series of glamorous dinners and meetings.
Khabo calls himself the CEO and President of his company Khabo-Mabe on Time Inc., which, he claims has offices in South Africa and the US.
The company's Washington address however, belongs to a residential property, while a deed search gave a street in Atteridgeville, as the company's local address.
A search on the SARS website revealed that Khabo-Mabe on Time is not registered to pay VAT. That's in breach of procurement policies, says Professor Deon Scott of UNISA, who's an expert on municipal finance.
Professor Deon Scott (UNISA): "The policy documentation states that clearly in all instances, you know, that any supplier must provide a tax clearance certificate complete with, for instance, VAT numbers and so forth."
Devi: "But in the past year Kiba Kekana authorised over R4-million for Khabo-Mabe on Time."
R600 000 for a music festival; R500 000 for a gala dinner; R400 000 for 2010 Tourism; R193 000 for a business forum; R100 000 for another gala dinner and another R100 000 for exhibition space.
All these amounts have been transferred since the 9th of September this year.
Devi: "The payments were made without a tender in place and despite the disapproval of Tshwane's Finance Department. They warned that procedures were not followed."
Prof Scott: "If a municipal manager should go that route, you know, I think it is a dramatic contravention of what is required in terms of legislation."
But what does the City of Tshwane get in return for its ample contribution? Not much it seems. Last year few people pitched at Khabo's SA Week in Washington, other than family and friends, and, of course, the Tshwane councillors and officials. But would it be wrong to think that a Washington old age home perhaps also sent a delegation?
Tshwane's ratepayers forked out R200 000 for this party; another R200 000 for this one and R375 000 for this one...
Khabo's invoice instructed that payments be made to an ABSA savings account before last year's events had even begun. Tshwane transferred the money electronically.
'Jo': "The procedure's not normal. The procedure is that if you are a service provider, you must provide a service. Once you have distributed the service, you must then give us the invoice and then it is processed and then we pay you."
Curiously, the VAT number that appeared on Khabo's invoices belongs to the City of Tshwane.
Prof Scott: "The audit committee [are] responsible to ensure that the internal auditors are doing what they should do. They should concentrate on all these high-risk areas. If it's criminal cases, they should go to SAPS for that."
Devi: "The Municipal Manager is the accounting officer in every municipality and, according to the Municipal Finance Management Act, he is responsible for every cent that comes in and goes out."
Kiba Kekana was recently in the news when he approved a report that effectively stopped the Tshwane Metro from using 'white' owned businesses for services and goods that cost less than R10 000.
This new rule is one of a set of strict regulations that guide procurement at the Tshwane Metro.
But, these rules don't seem to apply when Kekana and his top management go to exclusive venues to hold their legotlas.
About once a month a planning session or management meeting is held at a countryside lodge or spa, sometimes as far away as Hazyview in Mpumalanga.
The cost?
As much as R300 000 - and that's without the alcohol bill that's often around R16 000.
'Jo': "You look at the amount of money that is being spent - the impact of the region is not felt, either within, and or outside. It's like this budget that has to be spent."
What's rather shocking is that the Metro has its own up-market conference centre available for a fraction of the price.
There's also the historic Raadsaal, the traditional seat of Council on Church Square.
But these venues don't come with extra perks, like body massages. This was allegedly enjoyed by Lebogang Mahaye, the Head of Governance and Secretarial Services in Tshwane, at a recent legotla.
She allegedly slipped away from the planning session to have a full body massage that cost R1300. The municipality - the ratepayers - were billed for this. The line item on the invoice read, 'Team Building'."
Lebogang responded late yesterday saying she strongly denies the allegation - she had the massage, but it was paid in cash, for which she has a receipt as well as a witness.
Professor Hein Redelinghuys (DA - Tshwane Portfolio Committee on Finance): "It's always easy to spend money when it does not belong to you."
Professor Hein Redelinghuys is a member of the Portfolio Committee on Finance in the Tshwane Council.
Prof. Redelinghuys: "There should be proper internal control. It is the very first thing in any organisation."
Devi: "Is there proper internal financial control at Tshwane Metro?"
Prof Redelinghuys: "According to the Auditor General, no."
The Auditor General has been on Tshwane's case for some time. He's given the Metro qualified audits for the past eight years.
In December last year his office sent this document to the Municipal Manager to draw his attention to mis-statements in the financial reports.
Opposition parties in the Council, however, only got to see the document eight months later.
And no wonder: 23 pages of discrepancies were highlighted.
Assets of almost R6-billion could not be verified...
Creditors were under-estimated by R40-million, and...
Grants to the value of R8-million were paid out with no information on the recipients.
The number of bodyguards for the Executive Mayor, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, was also incorrectly disclosed.
The Council's problematic financial management is a matter of concern, says Professor Deon Scott.
Prof Scott: "The qualified audit report forms part of the Annual Reports of the municipality. It gets distributed worldwide and the ultimate decision-makers of the country get these Annual Reports and have a look at it. And what they see is a lot of qualifications, consistently from a very prominent Metro in the country."
What they also see is a lack of accountability at Tshwane.
Last year Head of Procurement, Hamilton Mhlom, was suspended in connection with a controversial R35-million contract.
Devi: "He allegedly deviated from tender procedures and got Council to pay R8-million more for the same computing equipment, but through another supplier. An investigation was launched, but he is back at work and no explanation has been offered."
Prof Scott: "There is a very good regulation legislation. Regulations monitoring the whole supply chain management issue and procurement per se, you know - the whole tendering process. It's there - it just needs to be followed properly."
Devi: "Tshwane has an annual budget of R15-billion; R12-billion for operating cost and R3-billion for capital expenditure. But the Metro's Chief Financial Officer is not a qualified Chartered Accountant. Last year a newspaper reported that even before her appointment in 2006, an industrial psychologist had warned that she would find it very difficult to comply with the demands of the position.
Ndanduleni Makhari was nevertheless appointed.
Her annual salary? More than a million rand a year.
Prof Scott: "One would expect, you know, that there should be a properly qualified person at the steer of the finances. They he/she should be competent enough to execute that responsibility."
But, Council often has to call on financial consultants to assist.
Two tenders were recently awarded to Auditors Price Waterhouse Coopers: R7.9-million to compile a report, and around R800 000 to assist with current financial statements.
This expenditure however, isn't a patch on the millions wasted on six senior officials who've not been to work since 2003.
Devi: "They're part of a group of 34 managers who lost their jobs when the Tshwane Metro was formed. Most of them eventually signed voluntary agreements ending their services, others refused. They are still collecting salaries and benefits, despite the fact that only one of them comes in to work. Another is a full-time farmer and the others allegedly play golf."
Their total remuneration for the past five years was an estimated R22-million and, should they be kept on the payroll till age 65, that amount will increase to a massive R227-million, all courtesy of Tshwane's ratepayers.
But, this is not the only case where people sit at home earning a salary.
Three years ago Adrianus Weyers voiced his concerns over safety when the municipality employed electricians who'd scored low marks in skills tests. He was suspended from work when he wrote to the Department of Labour and to the Engineering Council of SA.
The case eventually landed in the Pretoria High Court. In an affidavit before court, Adrianus identified three incidents where people had died from electrical shocks, supposedly due to inexperienced Metro electricians.
Devi: "Two of them were Tshwane employees and the third was a young girl who was electrocuted, five hours after a power leakage was first reported. The dangerous situation was allegedly not attended to because the dispatcher, although a qualified electrician, did not have the relevant training."
Adrianus won his court case, but Council has yet to revoke his suspension.
'Jo': "I believe it's a tactic when they want to get rid of you. Because I think such a situation will frustrate one, and obviously one could then think, 'What is the use, let me go out and find an alternative job somewhere'."
'Jo', our insider, is part of a group of experienced officials who've been sidelined by the Tshwane Metro. They come to work, but have nothing to do.
Devi: "Apparently they're not aligned with the political faction that's currently running this Metro and it has cost them their careers."
'Jo': "A number of people in senior management, a number of people in middle management are being pushed out of the system because they make conditions unfavourable for one."
This is especially true in the City Planning department.
Tommie Harrington's story was widely reported. He was Tshwane's Chief Building Inspector until the end of August when he resigned and moved to New Zealand. His reasons?
[Telephonic interview] Tommie Harrington (Former Chief Building Inspector - Tshwane): "Fraud, corruption taking place by people within the Building Control team and also management not doing anything about it."
These letters from members of the public confirm Tommie's allegations.
His bosses simply ignored them.
They also ignored footage captured on their own security cameras that appeared to show money changing hands in the Building Control Department.
So, has anything been done about this?
[Telephonic interview] Tommie: "Nothing, nothing at all. I mean they spent money on surveillance cameras etc, I mean they can replay it, they can cut it on CD, they can do anything they like but I mean nothing happened to the people. It's like a syndicate in Building Control."
In an unrelated case, a Plans Examiner was appointed, but he wasn't the person interviewed for the job.
That was his friend, whom he sent instead.
[Telephonic interview]: Tommie: "And the Building Control office just accommodated him and moved him to a building inspector's position."
The final straw for Tommie was when his boss ordered him to do something illegal.
Devi: "It was here in an up-market suburb of Waterkloof, Pretoria, that Tommie's boss wanted him to give an occupation certificate on a house that didn't comply with building regulations. Tommie refused."
The owner of the house is apparently someone with political connections.
Devi: "Who then signed it off?"
Tommie: "Well, Mr Maimane who was the building control officer. He signed inspections off on the building plans file and he issued an occupancy certificate at the end of the day."
[In studio] Derek: "At the eleventh hour we received an email from one of Tshwane Metro's spokespersons in response to questions from Carte Blanche. He claimed that the questions contained allegations and innuendos that are inaccurate "in almost all instances". He also claimed that there were many misrepresentations that will be exposed - and who knows what that means."
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:While every attempt has been made to ensure this transcript or summary is accurate, Carte Blanche or its agents cannot be held liable for any claims arising out of inaccuracies caused by human error or electronic fault. This transcript was typed from a transcription recording unit and not from an original script, so due to the possibility of mishearing and the difficulty, in some cases, of identifying individual speakers, errors cannot be ruled out.
|