A high-ranking City of Cape Town official has been accused of colluding with the construction mafia and the criminal underworld.
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The Weekend Argus reports that the municipality has fired Sipokazi September, the Director of Public Housing, after she was found guilty at her disciplinary hearing.
According to a source, she had been suspended for many months after cops raided her office and conducted a search and seizure operation amid tender fraud allegations against former Mayco member for human settlements, Malusi Booi.
‘On the day they raided Malusi’s office, they also raided hers. Staff on the floor reported seeing the search warrant posted on her door and it had listed the names of all the alleged suspects and next to her name were the names of three underworld figures. She was suspended for months and went to a disciplinary hearing and was sacked last month.’
According to a source, cops returned to the human settlements directorate late last year and raided offices once more, seizing paperwork from two additional officials.
‘They came to the officers of Duke Gumede who was the project manager of the Valhalla Housing Site and Xolile Fula who is the manager of staff housing and hostels. Both were also suspended as the investigation into dealings with dubious contractors continue.’
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo confirmed the incidents, saying, ‘September was charged in a disciplinary process and summarily dismissed on January 9.’
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‘The City can also confirm that the two other staff members mentioned are suspended for serious misconduct’.
He said he was unable to disclose the charges against the officials but added the municipality was serious about taking action against officials found guilty of misconduct.
‘The City is not at liberty to disclose any charges as the matters are either under further judicial review or did not progress to disciplinary processes as yet. ‘
Carl Pophaim, Mayco member for human settlements, welcomed the actions against officials, stating that the City would go to any length to clean up the mess.
‘In the past five months I have committed myself to rebuilding the public’s confidence in public housing. Our response has shown that it does not matter if you are a senior politician or an official we will deal with allegations of maleficence decisively.
‘If it means we must investigate all 900 officials in the directorate we will leave no stone unturned’
Pophaim said the investigations had revealed that underworld figures linked to the construction mafia had their claws deep inside the directorate.
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‘It is shocking that this started with threats of violence at certain sites and has uncovered how these syndicates have worked their way into the directorate using officials.’
The most recent developments come just a month after City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo revealed that he had blacklisted contractors with ties to alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield’s wife, Nicole Johnson.
Captain FC Van Wyk has stated that they are unable to comment on the investigation into Booi and others.
‘The matter you are referring to is still ongoing and of a sensitive nature, this office cannot divulged further information on this matter.’
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Picture: Christopher Burns/Unsplash
