The IFP calls on the KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala to urgently start conducting lifestyle audits for senior officials including Heads of Departments in the Province.
This comes after serious allegations of corruption levelled against Nokuthula Khanyile, the HOD of the Department of Social Development who is being investigated by the Hawks. The HOD is accused of soliciting Money for self-benefit. Security and cleaning companies contracted to the department pay a certain monthly amount to sustain the HoDs private security and school fees for her child. Channelling departmental resources for the benefit of political parties for electioneering purposes. Matter regarding the improper appointment of the University of KwaZulu-Natal requesting the university to submit some proposals for analysing 10 000 household profile forms and produce a report (whereas there are internal systems to can deliver on this) (sic). Proper procurement procedures were not followed in appointing the University of KwaZulu-Natal to do the aforementioned exercise. An amount of (R)1.4 million was paid during the financial year 18/19 to the university without any delivery of what was intended with regards to the exercise or services required.
The IFP believes that lifestyle audits must be conducted for all senior government officials in a bid to curtail the accumulation of illicit wealth. Those holding or have held senior positions should not fear undergoing a lifestyle audit. It is immoral for public officials to live lavish lives when they should be serving poor people. Provincial departments are not an avenue to become millionaires.
Furthermore, if the KZN Provincial government is to succeed, it needs effective leadership. The Provincial departments and government needs leaders within the government and within the administration who are not corrupt, who do not dispense patronage and who will not tolerate the theft or wastage of public resources. Those who are corrupt must be removed from their positions and must face the full might of the law. Focus should remain on the highest-ranking individuals possible not only to ensure that kingpins are held responsible but also to make clear that theft and diversion of public resources will not be tolerated irrespective of the perpetrator.
Corruption must not be tolerated. The ruling party has failed to hold to account senior officials implicated in the theft and diversion of public funds. No high-ranking government official, minister, or political appointee has ever served a prison sentence despite investigations into numerous corruption scandals over many years and an impressive array of anti-corruption institutions. Instead of being brought to justice, people accused of stealing millions and millions of Rands are often just shifted to other government positions. South Africa’s national game of musical chairs needs to stop. Corrupt officials shouldn’t be able to wriggle out of the prosecutors’ grasp.
The IFP further calls for urgent suspension of KZN HoD for Social Development, Nokuthula Khanyile pending the outcome of the investigation. We further commend those officials who exposed the corrupt activities by the HOD. This should be an encouragement to other officials in other Provincial departments to become whistle-blowers.
We call upon the Hawks to be thorough in their investigations and ensure that investigation is expedited without any further delay. We urge them not to succumb to any political interference while conducting their investigation.
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Contact:
Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Community Safety and IFP Chief Whip in the KZN Legislature,
078 290 5842
