Corruption continues unabated in the Limpopo province

In a press release by SAMWU dated 27 March 2013, the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in the Limpopo province said they are shocked by the unceasing corrupt activities taking place in municipalities in Limpopo.

According to SAMWU, corruption is handled with kid gloves in the municipalities; the perception that has been created is that it is normal for municipal officials to engage in corrupt activities.

In their press release, they published incidents that have stunned them to the extent that they said that they are now not sure if these deep routed corrupt activities will ever come to an end in this province.

In the Greater Letaba Municipality a private developer acquired un-serviced land for the market value of R8 Million. Much to SAMWU’s surprise the Department of Co-operative Governance wants to procure the very same piece of un-serviced land from this developer for the absurd amount of R52 million rand. The same department has already made a commitment to purchase this piece of land, evidenced in a letter dated 6 March 2013. As the largest Local Government Union SAMWU view this deal as the most embarrassing in the Limpopo province. They demand that this transaction to be suspended until such time that an investigation is concluded.

SAMWU said that they have been pleading with the HAWKS to act on matters of corruption which SAMWU continue to report to them on an ongoing basis and  now appeal to the public protector to look into these matters, as it is clear that the public protectors’ office is the only office that is serious about fighting corruption.

Furthermore, SAMWU claims that in Mopani District Municipality exists serious looting of resources. Management and councilors are awarding sanitation tenders to themselves. Various Directors within the municipality were arrested for fraud and corruption and were released with bail ranging from R50 000 to R200 000 but no internal action was ever taken against these employees. SAMWU are also dismayed by the fact that a consultant was appointed for a water purification project and was paid almost R4 million without doing anything. To make matters worse the very same contractor shares the same surname with the municipal manager.

They have lost confidence in the District Mayor and Municipal Manager and if the ruling party is serious about fighting corruption, then it should conduct its own investigation and remove corrupt elements.