COGTA Committee demands accountability from Endumeni Municipality over corruption and audit failures
The municipality, where municipal manager Sithembiso Ntombela was controversially promoted to the Premier's office despite being named in a COGTA forensic report into alleged tender corruption, drew sharp criticism during the oversight visit.
Committee Chairperson Marlaine Nair described the municipality's recent audit outcome as 'damning', referring to a disclaimer audit opinion – the worst possible – and calling for urgent turnaround strategies.
'The municipality recorded R39 million in unauthorised spending, R228 million in debtor arrears, and electricity losses of 35%, which is far above acceptable norms,' Nair said. 'Budgets remain unfunded, Eskom debt is escalating, and internal systems are weak.'
While the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) previously struggled to reach quorum, Nair noted improvements during the session and said the Committee had requested follow-up reports within two weeks.
'These hearings were not simply for complaints,' she added. 'We issued clear recommendations and set out practical follow-up actions. Oversight without enforcement is meaningless – we intend to hold this municipality accountable.'
Nair confirmed the Committee would probe all sections of the Section 106 investigation report, as well as reports on consequence management and internal disciplinary proceedings. She also said she would follow up on allegations that performance bonuses were paid to senior officials despite severe governance failures.
'Anyone with credible evidence of corruption or maladministration can write to the MEC and request an investigation,' she added.
Responding, FC Bester of the Endumeni Residents' Association said the community had already sent letters to the Premier's office calling for urgent intervention but received no reply.
'We will only believe that action is being taken once heads roll,' Bester concluded.
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