The municipal spokesperson, Kgomotso Mmusi, tells OFM News that the municipality is aware of the protests by irate residents over water issues but they are not particularly clear on other issues that may be raised from the memorandum.

This, as residents are hell-bent and demand that the mayor and municipal manager must vacate their offices for failing to adhere to their needs. It’s said that residents also want a report on the investigations in relation to the VBS Mutual Bank saga. Mmusi says for now the municipality will not comment further until such time when they have perused and exhausted all the necessary channels in the matter.

In 2018, following the investment of a combined R314 million of taxpayers’ money into the VBS Mutual Bank by four of the municipalities, the Provincial Government commissioned a forensic investigation by Sekela Xabanisa CA Inc (SKX) to look into the matter.

The District Municipality, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, was found to have invested R150 million of which R100 million was from the Regional Infrastructure Grant (RIG), R25 million from the Equitable Share-Free Basic Services and R25 million was from the Building Fund.

Madibeng Local Municipality invested R31 million of its conditional grant. Mahikeng Local Municipality invested R83 million, of which R23 million was from the municipal infrastructure grant and R60 million from the municipal equitable share. This was an overpayment from the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).

Moretele Local Municipality invested R50 million from the 2017/18 water services infrastructure grant.

OFM News