Mandela funeral probe ordered

[caption id="attachment_231481" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. File photo
Picture: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Antonio Muchave[/caption]

Damning public protector report links top East Cape officials to misuse of millions

Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has pointed a finger at senior Eastern Cape officials, including director-general Marion Mbina-Mthembu, for the misuse of millions of rands earmarked for statesman Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

Mkhwebane has directed Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba to request President Jacob Zuma to make a proclamation that the corruption-busting Special Investigation Unit investigate:

• Unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money;
• Unlawful‚ irregular or unapproved acquisitive acts‚ transactions‚ measures or practices;
• Intentional or negligent loss of public money by organs of state, with a view to instituting civil action for the recovery of the lost funds.

Mkhwebane also wants Finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo to conduct an investigation into the financial misconduct of Mbina-Mthembu and to instruct the municipal managers of Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, King Sabata Dalindyebo and OR Tambo District to investigate the financial misconduct of officials of their municipalities and to take appropriate action.

Speaking on behalf of the provincial government, Sonwabo Mbananga said it would only be able to comment once it had a copy of the report. – Additional reporting by Bongo Jacob