DA eThekwini reiterates call for strengthening of the CIIU

Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite by DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, Councillor Thabani Mthethwa.

The DA in eThekwini calls for the strengthening of the City Integrity Investigative Unit (CIIU), internal audit and control units.

This follows the latest developments in the Zandile Gumede R320 million DSW corruption court case. According to reports, the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), a division of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), seized a luxury car and properties to the tune of R25 million, related to this case.

This is five years later since Gumede and her co-accused were arrested by the Hawks. Although we welcome this latest development, the DA is of the view that had we had a strong and accountable CIIU, the matter would have not dragged this long.

This also comes a week after an investigation was launched by the Hawks against eThekwini Municipal Manager, Musa Mbhele, who allegedly used ratepayers’ money to fund renovations at his house, a case that should have been investigated by the CIIU.

Our calls to strengthen the unit, including ensuring that reports are easily accessible and progress is reported on a regular basis, have fallen on deaf ears. We have a backlog of cases that have dragged on for years and cost ratepayers millions while perpetrators continue to splurge the public purse and undermine the Unit.

The DA will however not relent until this matter is addressed with the urgency it demands.