The report recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the Municipal Manager (MM).

This, after the SIU finalised and submitted its report over allegations of fraud and corruption for awarding of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tenders.

Maladministration at the municipality was reportedly exposed by a whistle-blower, who reported supposed fraud and corruption over the procurement of PPE.

"With regards to the Ratlou Local Municipality, I have requested council to act on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report which has recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the Municipal Manager, Tebogo Chanda. The former Administrator of Ratlou had previously acted and placed Chanda on suspension. He took the matter to court and his case was dismissed with costs," Miga adds.

In 2021, SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, said the Atamaleng Magistrate’s Court had granted the SIU a warrant to raid offices of the Municipality.

This led to a raid with the assistance of the Hawks, after the Municipality failed to cooperate with SIU investigation.

“The SIU received information from a whistle-blower that a senior official at the municipality instructed officials to appoint service providers who are allegedly known to the senior official, for the provision of PPE and material to be used for disinfection of buildings. The appointments were done without following supply chain policies and emergency procurement directives issued by the National Treasury in terms of section 168 of the Municipal Finance Management Act No. 56 of 2003.  It is further alleged that quotations received from the service providers were exorbitantly higher than the prescribed price limits as per Treasury Instruction," Kganyago added.

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