MAKHADO – While the DA said that the Makhado Municipality is applying delaying tactics by not releasing the findings of the ad hoc committee about allegations of the "job for sex, job for sale, nepotism and bonus of the municipal manager" matters at the council, Mayor Sarel Rulani Nkuzana said that a comprehensive report would be presented to council towards the end of January.

Nkuzana launched the ad hoc committee to "gather facts" within 21 working days on allegations of fraud, corruption, sexual harassment and nepotism at the municipality, on September 7, 2003. Nkuzana said that to ensure that communities obtain the maximum benefits of democracy, he would prefer to work with members of the opposition. However, after appointing the ad hoc committee, comprised of only ANC members, he was regarded as a liar.

The mayor told Mirror that the committee had already submitted its findings to him towards the end of December 2003, and the report would be tabled during the first council meeting of 2004, towards the end of January. "That is where Council will take a decision, based on the outcome of the report, to appoint a commission of inquiry if the allegations are true. The council might even take a decision not to appoint a commission of inquiry because of financial constraints. I want people to understand that the committee that we appointed was not an investigative committee, but an ad hoc committee gathering facts on allegations of fraud," Cllr Nkuzana said.

When asked if members of the opposition and the community would accept the findings of the committee comprised of councillors from the ruling party, the mayor said "It would be better if we talk about that when we've crossed the river, but one thing is for sure: we will do exactly what the council decides; we cannot override a council decision".

The DA has stipulated since the launch of the ad hoc committee that the committee is comprised of incompetent ANC members without expertise on investigations. Cllr LP Mashau of the UDM said that, to restore the rule of law, dignity and respect at the Makhado Municipality, corruption must be exposed. He said that the appointment of the ad hoc committee was just a waste of time, especially on the matter of the performance bonus of the municipal manager.

"As the UDM, we believe that council should carry out the recommendations of Lebia and associates, as they have been paid to do that job," he said. In conclusion, Nkuzana said that those who have been spreading rumours that the findings would be kept until after the general elections, must stop, as these would be announced in two weeks' time.