The City of Tshwane is today expected to again table the forensic report set up to probe allegations of tender irregularities in the first phase of a R2bn contract to improve the local Rooiwal water treatment plant.
The Rooiwal water treatment plant was intended to improve the quality of water consumed by the Hammanskraal community. The SA Human Rights Commission concluded in 2019 that the water was unfit for human consumption after the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) independent sample analysis.
The Rooiwal plant’s lack of capacity to purify wastewater resulted in the sludge being discharged into the Apies River and has been identified as the source of dirty water consumed by people in Hammanskraal and surrounds.
Tshwane mayor Randall Williams on March 31 this year asked for a formal investigation into any irregularities, with a 90-day deadline which ended at the end of June.
Two weeks ago the tabling of the report was aborted again after EFF and ANC councillors complained about the quality of the report and that they had been given a summary instead of the full report.
It was the third time that the council had attempted to deliberate on the forensic report. The mayoral committee member for utilities in the City of Tshwane, Daryl Johnston, blamed the failure to table the report on the ANC and EFF councillors for what he said were “their own self-serving interest” that had prevented it being tabled.
“It was the executive mayor [Williams] who in fact initiated the investigation into Rooiwal and has requested the multiple special council meetings to sit to deliberate on the report. Unfortunately, these meetings have been disrupted by the ANC and the EFF, who seem intent on frustrating deliberations on the report,” said Johnston.
Concerns have been raised that the failure to table the report, which recommends, among other things, internal disciplinary processes and criminal charges against certain individuals and companies named, could allow culprits to get off without consequences.
Tshwane municipality spokesperson Selby Bokaba has however clarified that the city manager (CM) was by law required to take action if a wrong or an illegality is detected.
“The city manager is by law obligated to act where irregular expenditure is incurred or where fraud and corruption is brought to his attention. Failure to act may result in the CM being held accountable in his personal capacity. Such obligations are legislated and stand independently of any resolutions by council,” said Bokaba, who declined to comment specifically on the Rooiwal forensic report.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.