By: Zethu Gweva
The Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Xolile Nqatha suspended two Buffalo City Metro Municipality councillors for violating Municipal Systems Act.
According to a statement released by the department, it is alleged that Nicky Vitbooi and Kuhle Ciliza used the services of the Area Committee instead of the Ward Committee in the identification of beneficiaries for food parcels during the period of the Lockdown.
The statement further alleged that Vitbooi took half of the money that was allocated for the burial of a destitute family which was paid out by the municipality and directed the money to her own needs. Ciliza is accused of solicited bribe of R50 000 from an artist.
According to Nqatha Councillor Vitbooi and Ciliza have been suspended for violating Item 2 (b) of schedule 1 of the Code of Conduct for Councillors of the Municipal Systems Act (MSA) which states that “A councillor must at all times act in the best interest of the municipality and in such a way that credibility and integrity of the municipality are not compromised.”
The councillors have been suspended from office in terms of 14 (6)(b) of the Code of Conduct.
“I decided to take up these cases after the failure of the council to act despite the gravity of the cases and negative impact on government renewal and good governance. The need to take action against wrongdoing is in the deepest interest of building public confidence to government institutions,” said Nqatha
Buffalo City Metro News was unable to get a comment from the BCM Spokesperson Bathandwa Dayimani.