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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West will write to the Chairperson of the Public Provincial Accounts Committee (PPAC), Mahlakeng Mahlakeng, to request that he summon former Premier, Supra Mahumapelo, MEC for Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development (FEED), Wendy Nelson, and MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe to come and appear before the Committee to account for their role in the VBS scandal.

Supra and members of his Executive Committee have never been fully held to account for their failure to exercise due diligence for the investment of public funds in a failing financial institution such as VBS.

The appearance of representatives from Mahikeng and Morelete municipalities on 15 August 2018 before the PPAC, to account for the dodgy investments in VBS, is just the beginning of a process to get to the bottom of this case.

The ANC must explain why the most distressed municipalities in the province had been targeted to participate in this multi-million Rand money laundering scheme. There should be a proper investigation and all those found guilty must be held to account.

The looting and corruption in North West have gone on for far too long and the DA strongly believes that all the Municipal Managers (MM) who are implicated should be held accountable for their misconduct and total lack of accountability.

We will assign fresh mandates to our DA Councillors to open cases of fraud and corruption in their respective municipalities. We will also ensure that all MM’s and Mayors face the consequences of their decisions and actions.

We will also action the Auditor-General’s office to provide a full report on whether these investments have been registered as findings against municipalities who invested in VBS during their audits.

Under a DA-led government, this money would have been utilised to build houses, invest in security and improve infrastructure. Our communities deserve proper service delivery and an accountable government.

Issued by DA