Decisive action must be taken after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in Mpumalanga uncovered irregularities relating to a tender for water storage tanks and boreholes.
The tender of R182,7 million was awarded by the provincial Department of Human Settlements.
According to the SIU, the Department planned to sink boreholes and erect water storage tanks at 247 schools in Mpumalanga.
Another 127 communities were reportedly also identified for the project.
The SIU’s findings, however, indicate that not a single one of the water storage tanks is working.
These tanks were installed at a cost of R5 million each.
In addition, the police are investigating the contractor after one of the tanks’ steel support structures collapsed and allegedly led to the death of a child.
The FF Plus requested the Public Protector (PP) in April 2022 to investigate the Department after it had sunk exorbitantly expensive boreholes, which cost more than R800 000 in some cases.
It was part of yet another contract amounting to R18 million.
The party also requested feedback from the Premier, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, in 2022 on an investigation into the misappropriation of the drought relief fund, particularly concerning storage tanks and boreholes.
The FF Plus will keep a watchful eye on the process to ensure that all those guilty of the misappropriation of funds and corruption are brought to book.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Werner Weber on FF Plus
