Municipality blocks resignation of clerk accused of R1.3m theft

Mpumalanga Municipality rejects resignation of senior clerk accused stealing R1.3m from Eskom. Lekwa, a local municipality in Standerton, reported that it was made aware of the theft by the end of July. When confronted with the matter, the woman offered to resign. The municipality has yet to file a criminal complaint against the individual implicated, but it has stated that an internal investigation is underway. The woman was alleged to pay the money into her Capitec Bank personal account in one transaction. The money was meant to pay the council’s Eskom debt. From December last year, the Lekwa municipality owed Eskom around R5.2bn due to the municipality’s failure to collect outstanding payments from consumers, which stems from poor financial management, inadequate cash flow and interference with credit control policies. Due to this, the municipality often finds itself unable meet its financial obligations. This includes paying salaries and creditors. —  DA councillor Sithi SilosiniThe issue of the theft was briefly discussed during last week’s council meeting, when a preliminary internal audit was presented to councillors. Despite the protests by councillors the municipality has refused to disclose the name of employee. The audit report was not given to the councillors, as the municipality claimed it was a preliminary report.The DA said it was disappointed by the municipality’s dragging its feet in investigating the matter.“We have urgently written to the executive mayor, Sifiso Mngomezulu, to have the legal team of the municipality seek a court order to freeze accounts of the clerk. However, we have not gotten a response yet,” Sithi Silosini is a DA councillor. Lubabalo Majenge, the municipal spokesperson said. “The municipality is aware of the matter. The employee is suspended from the employ of the municipality pending the finalisation of the investigation or disciplinary proceedings. “On the criminal case, the municipality is finalising the compilation of affidavits to open the criminal case.”He added that the investigation was also looking into whether or not other employees are involved and how far back it dates. He said that the employee was also subjected to an earlier transgression for a different issue in 2017. The employee was then given a warning and a disciplinary proceeding. Sowetan
2025-11-20 05:05:51