The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape will lodge a complaint with the National Prosecutor regarding the irregular bank account opened by person/s in the Siyathemba Municipality under the leadership of ex-mayor, Howard Tsume.

Even in the midst of an ongoing confidential investigation regarding the irregular financial conduct under Tsume’s leadership, his career continues to take flight to higher grounds.

Tsume has since been appointed as the Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) although the DA previously requested for clarity on Tsume’s then deployment as a Deputy Director for institutional affairs in the Department of Public Works. This, after a letter was submitted to the MEC of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Bentley Vass, informing him that since August last year, Tsume was not fulfilling his mayoral duties during an investigation process.

The Municipal Manager assured councillors that “Coghsta in collaboration with their political head” is treating the matter with diligence. The DA will therefore also once again submit a letter to Vass to ascertain how Tsume was able to be appointed as the Chairperson for MPAC while there is an ongoing investigation or why no charges were made against persons who transgressed financial regulations.

It remains unclear how he continues to climb into bigger and better administrative positions while the municipality clearly suffered under his poor leadership.

We request Vass to swiftly respond to our previous communication sent to his office regarding Tsume’s deployment in departmental positions, as well as the outcome of the investigation and a detailed report on his appointment as MPAC Chair within the municipality.

We cannot allow cadre deployment to other departments when investigations on possible financial misconduct are still ongoing and simultaneously compromising accountability.

Issued by The DA