Public Protector asked to probe Emalahleni traffic jobs

The eMalahleni Local Municipality will ask Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to investigate allegations of nepotism after it emerged that some traffic officer graduates were related to a former mayor, councilors and regional ANC leaders. The municipality sent 20 trainees to the Mpumalanga Traffic College in Bushbuckridge last year and spent R2 million, of which R285 000 was paid out as monthly stipends of R1 500 per trainee. When they graduated in February this year, the local branch of the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) realized that some of the graduates were related to the politicians. SANCO found that Sithembiso Mbuli is the son of former Executive Mayor, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali. Ntshalintshali is the current ANC acting provincial secretary and culture, sport and recreation MEC; Sizwe Mabona is a son of Ntshalintshali’s brother; Dumisane Djiane is the son of eMalahleni public accounts committee chairperson, Jerry Djiane; Barbara Mohlala, SANCO alleged, is the girlfriend of technical services MMC and ANC Nkangala regional executive committee member, Mduduzi Mswati Nkosi; Lerato Ralele is the wife of waste and environment MMC, Thabang Mathebula. Mathebula is also the Nkangala ANC Youth League secretary; Sebula Mokgadi is the daughter of executive mayor Linah Malatjie’s aide, Feshy Mahlangu; and Lindokuhle Gift Tamale is the son of public safety MMC, Derrick Skhosana. Skhosana is responsible for the municipality’s traffic department. eMalahleni spokesperson, Lebohang Mofokeng, said that the council deliberated on the ethics committee’s report and took a decision that the matter should be referred to Mkhwebane for further investigation. The ethics committee had recommended that the three councilors Djiane, Skhosana and Mathebula be charged and refund the council R100 000 each. “The council said that it cannot charge only three councilors as more were involved and decided that the matter be referred to the Public Protector for further investigation,” Mofokeng said.