Manase hearings under way

Durban - The disciplinary hearings involving senior eThekwini municipal officials implicated in the Manase and Associates forensic investigation into financial irregularities in the city have started.

But the slow pace at which the city is dealing with the disciplinary process has frustrated senior politicians in the council who have accused the city manager S’bu Sithole, of “doing his own thing” and not keeping them in the loop. To date, a progress report on the disciplinary process has not been presented to the city’s executive committee.

Treasurer Krish Kumar appeared before the disciplinary committee a week ago for allegedly failing to take reasonable steps to prevent irregular expenditure. He refuses to comment on the matter.

Derek Naidoo, former deputy city manager for infrastructure, and Cogi Pather, former head of housing, were also implicated. They, too, have rejected accusations of wrongdoing. Pather has resigned from the municipality and Naidoo’s contract was not renewed.

Jacquie Subban, head of the geographic information and policy unit, was also named in the report.

DA caucus leader Tex Collins said it had been “nearly a year” since the report had been handed to the city and investigations had still not been finalised. “We need to see what charges have been levelled against officials. How is the body politic able to make decisions when we don’t know what charges they face?” he said.

Minority Front councillor Patrick Pillay said the executive committee was the city’s oversight committee where reports like Manase should be presented. “The goalposts of resolving the issue are always moving,” he said.

Municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said disciplinary processes were under way. - The Mercury