Johnathan Paoli
THE City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Council has appointed Pule Seleke as the head of the Special and Independent Investigation Committee, following allegations of maladministration and corruption in the city’s Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) department
The council met on Sunday to consider the recent allegations and Council Speaker Margaret Arnolds said the chairperson of the committee – comprising various legal practitioners – would investigate allegations of rogue, clandestine and unlawful conduct by the city’s anti-fraud and corruption department, the GFIS.
“I trust the work of the committee will begin in earnest following various delays which were caused by legal briefs that were not accepted and not executed properly,” Arnolds said.
Several senior officials from the department were suspended in March last year for investigations following allegations of unlawful conduct.
The report promoted the dissolution of the unit’s board by the council and the transfer of the department’s responsibilities to city manager Floyd Brink.
Arnolds said the GFIS was established during the tenure of former Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba and claimed exemption under section 56 and did not report to council.
Section 56 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act refers to the appointment of managers who are directly accountable to the municipal manager, and not the council.
In addition, Arnolds called into question the introduction of machinery which illegally invaded the privacy of council members as well highlighting the fact that only the council’s Integrity Commissioner had the right to investigate counselors, not GFIS.
Meanwhile, DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, said her party welcomes any investigations because they believe in transparency and respect the law.
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