Gloves are off over DBN report

Former city manager Michael Sutcliffe has come out swinging at Co-operative Governance MEC Nomusa Dube, who released a damning audit report on the eThekwini municipality.

He asked why she failed to act against her sister who was conducting business with the metro, where she was an employee, before pointing fingers at other officials.

Sutcliffe and municipal bosses implicated in the report have cried foul at the report’s release without being allowed to see it or respond.

They have also signalled that they will fight any charges or wrongdoing arising from an audit probe by Manase and Associates, which was commissioned by Dube just less than a year ago.

Sutcliffe, presently out of the country, was reacting to claims in the Manase report that he failed to report corrupt and fraudulent activities taking place in the municipality he ran.

“That's absolute nonsense. We even acted against Dube’s sister who was doing business with the city. The question to ask is why didn’t she (Nomusa Dube) do anything to stop her sister, and why was her sister not named in her summary to the media?

“The fact of the matter is that this report is a campaign to besmirch the names of certain people in public. The proper process would have been to first present the findings to those against whom the allegations are being made.

“They should then have an opportunity to state their responses which form part of the investigations.

“This has not happened, which invalidates the whole investigation and the process as far as I am concerned. I met with Dube and ANC Provincial Secretary Sihle Zikalala on Monday night before the media briefing and was advised that we had nothing to worry about.

“Not once was I told about any allegation against me, or anything involving fraudulent activity which I am being accused,” Sutcliffe told the Daily News.

“At that meeting MEC Dube went through the report she was to present today (on Tuesday) to Council.

“At no point in going through the 20-odd issues did she made specific claims against me, except for once saying that I did not promptly respond to a POCCCA matter.

“In my response to her I indicated that: (i) no specific issues had been put to me for me to respond to which is the normal investigative process; and (ii) that in the case of POCCCA there is a very clear response.

“In this regard my Head: Legal had given me very clear advice which I also discussed with the Head of Hawks to finalise a protocol for such reporting after which we have properly responded,” Sutcliffe said.

“I indicated to MEC Dube my concern that the investigation was clearly targeting certain individuals and warned her against opening up a Pandora’s box.

“I specifically raised concerns that she had never brought to our attention the fact that her own sister was both an employee of ours and was doing business with the municipality, something which we had stopped after our own investigations.

“I am interested to know what Manase and Co have said about this matter,”he said.

“The clear attempt to besmirch the characters of senior members of the municipality and myself without even putting issues to us for us to respond to must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

“I am not available to respond to any of these matters as I am away and believe that her actions today smack of political opportunism at its worst.”

He said he wanted to view the full report before issuing a formal response. However, he indicated he would challenge the allegations of any wrongdoing.

Implicated senior officials are questioning the basis of the findings, saying they were preparing to contest it. They had not acted wrongfully, they said, insisting that they are being tried in the media before having had an opportunity to respond.

Housing Head Cogie Pather, Deputy City Manager: Treasury, Krish Kumar, and Deputy City Manager: Supply Chain Management and Infrastructure, Derek Naidoo, all said they were preparing to challenge the report's summary of allegations against them.

“My hands are clean, and although I have not seen the report yet, I have nothing to hide, and will definitely challenge any claim against me of wrongdoing,” said Naidoo.

Like Naidoo, Pather said he did not act unlawfully. “Irregular expenditure needs to be looked at in context, as we have said all along. The reality is that we have not been given an opportunity to explain certain issues which may appear to be in violation of certain policies.

“I am prepared to challenge allegations made against me, even if I am taken through the disciplinary processes,” said Pather.

Kumar agreed, adding that he felt there was a serious “flaw” in the system in that those implicated were not given the opportunity to even present their case before the matter was taken to the media.

“How can we defend ourselves without even being formally advised of the charges? Instead the media have been given details and information about us which we have not yet been privy to, yet are expected to respond to those allegations. That is not a fair process,” he added.

I am most surprised at this, particularly as I met with both MEC Dube and the Secretary of the ANC Cde. Sihle Zikalala last night in the company of the CFO Krish Kumar. - Daily News

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