The DA responds to the public protector’s pending investigation:<\/p>\n
The DA’s Bill Rundle, the DA’s shadow MMC for Roads and Transport, says the report of the public protector’s probe into suspected tender fraud in the metro to the tune of R109-million, has confirmed what the DA has suspected all along.<\/p>
Rundle is even more concerned that this fraud allegedly happened at the hands of city manager, Kaya Ngema, according to media reports.<\/p>\n
He had noticed that repairs and maintenance of roads in the metro had come to a standstill.<\/p>
Questions to ascertain reasons for this, posed to MMC for Roads and Transport, Thumbu Mahlangu, elicited only vague and evasive answers.<\/p>\n
“The lack of response from officials raised obvious red flags which led the party to believe there was some kind of cover-up in place,” said Rundle.<\/p>\n
“It is quite clear that MMC Mahlangu has long since lost control of this vital service delivery department.<\/p>\n
“Several sites in Etwatwa, Daveyton and Esselen Park Ext Three were started, but not completed which have been hugely inconvenient for residents.<\/p>\n
“These are just a few examples of a problem that spans throughout the metro.<\/p>\n
“Stormwater projects in high risk flood areas have been hanging in the air for two years, despite a directive from a tribunal in 2012 to commence and complete the work as a matter of urgency.<\/p>\n
“The court interdict preventing the metro from awarding any further contracts in certain areas explains a great deal.<\/p>\n
“Roads and related infrastructure development forms the basis of all economic development.<\/p>\n
“The Aerotropolis and the Integrated Rapid Transport Network (IRTN) seem to be little more than hot air from the mayor and a pipe dream for the metro.”<\/p>\n
While the DA made it clear they support the moratorium on the awarding of tenders while possible corruption is uncovered and resolved, the delays don’t help residents and motorists see or feel any difference in the roads they are using.<\/p>\n
As a result Rundle says the residents of the metro are stuck between a rock and a hard place.<\/p>\n