"I would like to urge members not to play party politics. We are here on a mission to ensure that our people get the services they are entitled to," said Ms Ellen Prins, the leader of the delegation.
The Mayor, Mr Memory Booysen, informed the delegation that there has been commendable progress on the issue of corruption around housing, which was raised at the last Taking Parliament to the People. "When the issues were raised, there was already a process to investigate the allegations. These allegations revolved around the houses being sold and people who do not qualify occupying houses," Mr Booysen said.
The challenge that the municipality has faced is that no one has come forward with concrete information to substantiate the allegations of corruption. "But after investigation, two community liaison officers were found guilty and there was prima facie evidence involving at least 20 other cases where people paid from R500 to R5 000 to get a house," Mr Booysen said.
Following the internal processes that found the two officials guilty, the officials decided to take the municipality to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). One of the councillors present at the briefing informed the delegation that the council has not seen the report the mayor was referring to and he wished that the NCOP would be given that report.
Mr Emmanuel Mlambo, an MP from the NCOP, asked why no criminal case had been opened against the two officials, but the mayor said a criminal case had been opened and investigations are ongoing. "We will make available all the necessary information in relation to the investigation," Mr Booysen promised.
The delegation will later today visit various sites to see progress on issues raised at the previous TPTTP session in April last year. These sites include a housing project, a school and a Home Affairs office.
Malatswa Molepo
19 April 2016
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