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TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Umzinyathi municipal manager suspended amid fraud and corruption allegations
The embattled municipal manager of the Umzinyathi district municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, who is implicated in fraud and corruption allegations, has been suspended. The council meeting on Tuesday resolved to suspend Ntombenhle Mkhwanazi for three months pending her disciplinary hearing. Mkhwanazi is implicated in damming corruption allegations relating to a payment of R5.7m for water projects that were never undertaken. Council speaker Tyson Kunene confirmed that Mkhwanazi has been suspended after a council resolution. Kunene said Mkhwanazi is suspended for three months pending her disciplinary hearing. According to a report compiled and tabled to the council by Garnet Ngubane and Partners Inc, the municipality from 2020 had a dubious relationship with a company called Bosch Projects. The company was tasked with the compilation of an operations and maintenance plan for wastewater treatment facilities. Also for pump stations, borehole and water schemes and network, which included the Mbono Bulk Water Project in Msinga. The forensic report details how Umzinyathi officials made irregular payments and failed to properly instruct lawyers to defend lawsuits by Bosch Projects and had to pay millions as a result of undefended lawsuits. At the time, Mkhwanazi was a CFO working closely with the former municipal manager Lethu Mthembu. The report recommended that some officials, like Sabelo Nhlebela, former contracts manager, Mthembu (Lethu) and others, be charged. Others should have their pensions withheld and money recouped. 'Mr Nhlebela must be charged for gross negligence in carrying out duties as he failed to manage the entire contract life cycle, including executing and ensuring compliance of the contract. This while minimising risks and maximising the value for the municipality. This resulted in a fruitless and wasteful expenditure of R2,550,263.09. 'Civil action must be instituted against Mthembu for authorising payment to an amount of R5,798,502.08. This was for services that were never rendered. 'The forensic investigation into Bosch projects found that Mr [Germany] Ndlozi (former operations manager) was a key player and willing participant to defraud the municipality through wasteful and fruitless expenditure,' reads the report. It also recommended that the R5.7m that was paid to Bosch be recovered.
Associated Press
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Twins agree to deal with free agent Ty France, bringing in 2022 All-Star as another option at 1B
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins and free agent first baseman Ty France agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of the deal, adding the 2022 All-Star to the mix at their most unsettled position. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized. France has spent the majority of his career with the Seattle Mariners, who traded him last summer to the Cincinnati Reds after he'd been placed on waivers. France, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres and made his major league debut with them in 2019, was dealt to the Mariners in 2020. France had three full seasons as the regular first baseman for the Mariners, batting .272 with a .415 slugging percentage and a .763 OPS from 2021-23. He led the majors in hit by pitches in both 2021 (27) and 2023 (34). In 2022, he hit 20 homers with 83 RBIs in 140 games. The 30-year-old France became a free agent in November when he refused an outright assignment by the Reds to Triple-A. He'll give the Twins an experienced hitter to consider starting on Monday with their first full-squad workout in Fort Myers, Florida. The departure of Carlos Santana in free agency for the Cleveland Guardians left a void at first base, where Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien are also viable options with significant upside on offense. The challenge will be replacing the defense provided by Santana, who won the AL Gold Glove award in 2024. Minnesota also will take a look at first baseman Mike Ford, among 16 players invited to spring training on minor league contracts. Ford appeared in 17 games with the Reds last season, his sixth major league team in six years. He hit a career-high 16 home runs in 83 games for the Mariners with a .798 OPS in 2023. The Twins have had another quiet offseason, with their payroll in a holding pattern. They signed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe and backup outfielder Harrison Bader last week, the only other additions of significance before France. The Twins had two relief pitchers claimed off waivers on Tuesday, right-hander Ronny Henriquez to the Miami Marlins and left-hander Brent Headrick to the New York Yankees. Headrick's departure created space for France on the 40-man roster. Henriquez was designated for assignment on Friday to make room for Coulombe, who was signed to a $3 million, one-year deal. The Twins also traded outfielder Michael Helman to the St. Louis Cardinals last week for cash, clearing a space for outfielder Harrison Bader, who signed for a guaranteed $6.25 million on a contract that includes a mutual 2026 option and bonuses that would pay him up to $7.75 million in 2025 alone if he plays regularly. ___
