The EFF has opened another criminal case against a Free State municipal senior accounting officer.

The party in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality are accusing the accounting officer of trying to silence the party’s regional leader by allegedly paying him a double salary. EFF regional chairperson, April Motaung, said this was an attempt to silence him in what they term a fight for clean governance.

This comes after the municipality decided to pay the regional chair and party leader twice and this was a deliberate act to silence him in his fight for clean governance. This follows allegations that senior municipal officials were overpaying themselves but unfortunately in this instance, they met their match, an incorruptible public servant,” Motaung said.

OFM News previously reported that an anonymous person had blown the whistle on alleged fraud and corruption at the Fezile Dabi Municipality. 

An inquiry sent to the office of the Municipal Manager by the Municipality's Public Accounts Committee has since shed light on alleged fraud and corruption involving senior officials. The anonymous whistle-blower tipped off the committee led by Motaung, about the alleged over R200,000 fraud and corruption matter, involving senior officials at the municipality. Motaung has since confirmed to OFM News they have received the tip-off and sent questions to the municipality.

He said as per the regulations, the response to the inquiry should be received within seven days. Motaung confirmed they have since requested a breakdown of the payments to acting directors and senior managers. The municipality is yet to comment.

“What policy was applied to substantiate these payments, or was there a specific council resolution justifying the payments, and did the application consistently apply to all current and former acting directors?“

The term “whistleblowing” is used by law enforcement agencies when a person passes on relevant and reliable information concerning wrongdoings, such as fraud and corruption, to a person/organisation they trust.

“MPAC must therefore inform the council on these developments and conduct the necessary oversight,” he said.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane   Daphné/Corné