Corruption is not just read about in the media, but is visible in failing municipalities across South Africa.
This is according to Nelson Mandela Bay mayor and DA mayoral candidate Nqaba Bhanga.
“The money allocated to them has been stolen by ANC politicians,” he said, referencing the Mbizana municipality.
He was speaking at an anti-corruption picket in Gqeberha. The picket follows the release of a public protector report last week that implicated Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane and public works MEC Babalo Madikizela. Bhanga said several municipalities could not deliver basic services such as electricity and water which was not the fault of officials.
Bhanga was joined by DA leader John Steenhuisen, DA Eastern Cape provincial chair Andrew Whitfield and DA federal council chair Helen Zille.
Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that R450,000 from the Mbizana municipality was allegedly used to renovate Mabuyane’s East London home.
She further alleged money was paid to Madikizela, which was used for a vehicle deposit and clothing purchases, along with transfers into his wife’s bank accounts.
Mabuyane and Madikizela have denied the allegations.
Mabuyane said: “I have taken the report on review. I think the DA is simply opportunistic.”
At the picket, Steenhuisen and Bhanga signed a good governance agreement which seeks to tackle corruption.
Bhanga said he would seek to attach assets of any councillors who had or would make any incorrect decisions in council that led to irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
“Those who make irregular decisions and motions are going to pay,” Bhanga said. “We are going to chase them wherever they are and even if they are unemployed.”
Zille compared the alleged actions of Mabuyane and Madikizela to that of former president Jacob Zuma.
“Everyone was critical of us, the commentators said we were racist and all of that nonsense but everyone knows that we were right,” she said.
“If we had stopped Zuma, we would not have been in this mess today,” she said. “The cancer of corruption started with cadre deployment [as] cadre deployment allowed the ANC to capture the state and for the state to capture the economy.”
“Voting for the ANC allows this and people must not cry later. You know it is pure corruption,” she said.
Steenhuisen said he signed the agreement as he hoped to emulate it in other municipalities.
“And, like cancer, I hope that this spreads everywhere as corruption is not a victimless crime,” he said.
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