Public Protector reports back to the community of Nala Municipality on progress made

Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela has called on residents of Nala Municipality to continue to pay for Municipal services while she concludes her investigations into allegations of maladministration and corruption at the Municipality.

She said while giving a report back to the community at a meeting held in Monyakeng Township in the Free State. The purpose of the meeting was to give feedback on what her office has done since visiting the area in April 2012. The Public Protector met with the Municipality officials to get a progress report on the undertakings the municipality took last year. She also met with complainants to hear their observations and later confirmed progress by conducting an inspection in loco at sites complained about in 2012.

It was agreed that the Municipality will provide the following documents for the Public Protector’s to complete her report:

• Copy of letters written to National Treasury with a list of defaulting contractors
• Implementation Plan of KPMG Forensic Report with time lines
• Project Plan on Phase 1 for the incomplete sewerage plant
• Department of Human Settlements undertaking to assists the Municipality
• UWP Reports and Tender Documents on unconnected Flush Toilets and bucket system;

The Municipality undertook to take the following steps

• Collect toilet buckets twice a week
• Regular contact with the community
• Further engage with the Department of Water Affairs on their assistance to complete phase 2 of the sewage plant.
• The municipality undertook to investigate what could have happened to the R400, 000.00 allegedly paid directly to service providers by some national departments to develop the community recreational park, which was never developed as observed during the Public Protector’s in loco inspection.

The Public Protector said she is satisfied with the progress even though the Municipality did not act as swiftly as they had promised. She also said that she will look at the new complaints she received on her visit. She further assured the community that a provisional report will be ready at the end of February 2013 and that the investigation will be concluded by 31 March 2013.

Issued by:

Kgalalelo Masibi
Spokesperson
Public Protector South Africa
Tel: 012 366 7069
Fax: 0866 261 143
Cell: 079 507 0399
E-mail: kgalalelom@pprotect.org