EASTERN CAPE — O.R. Tambo District Municipality has disputed claims about procurement, payments and water projects.
The claims have spread on social media.
ECNewsLive asked the municipality for a response.
This followed documents and social-media posts linked to Baas Kruger.
The material included an APAC document.
It also included a report on the Dumasi Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme.
However, the municipality said some of the documents are not genuine or accurate.
Municipality rejects R2 million claim
First, the municipality rejected a claim about a R2 million payment.
The claim says the money went to borehole development at Dumasi.
However, the municipality said its records show no such payment.
It also disputed claims about 15 companies.
According to the claims, the companies received about R988 million over two years.
Another claim says Magnacorp received about R426 million through 10 tenders.
However, the municipality said these figures need more detail.
It said the figures should be checked against official records and contracts.
Municipality explains payments
The municipality confirmed several payments linked to water projects.
For example, Khwalo Construction won a tender for the Mqanduli Bulk Water Supply project.
The contract was worth about R36.47 million.
The municipality said it paid about R9.99 million.
The project ended in 2021.
In addition, Gcina Sonke Engineers worked on the Mqanduli Secondary Bulk Project.
That contract was worth about R35.12 million.
The municipality said it paid about R10.36 million.
The project was completed and handed over.
Signal Hill reservoir project
Meanwhile, the municipality explained payments linked to Ruwacon.
Amatola Water Board appointed Ruwacon for the Mthatha Signal Hill Reservoir project.
The water board acted as the project agent.
The municipality paid Amatola Water Board after receiving certified claims.
The project included a 15-megalitre reservoir.
According to the municipality, the reservoir is now working.
Mhlontlo water project
The municipality also confirmed payments involving Valotone and Phoenix.
It said the two companies worked as nominated subcontractors.
Their work formed part of the Mhlontlo Cluster 1 Water Project.
According to the municipality, the work is complete.
In addition, the municipality explained three payments to Amatola Water Board.
The payments were about R28.02 million, R14.8 million and R91.18 million.
The municipality said the money covered work at the Thornhill Water Treatment Works.
This work included infrastructure and electrical upgrades.
Previous investigations
The municipality said it has not started a new internal forensic probe.
This follows the latest social-media claims.
However, it said the Auditor-General, SIU and Hawks had looked at some of the issues before.
The municipality said it worked with these bodies.
Meanwhile, it also addressed documents linked to Ayanda Peyana Consultants, or APAC.
The municipality said the documents came from an earlier Council term.
It said the Grahamstown High Court later set aside the APAC appointment and related reports.
The case is recorded as Case No. 2258/2020.
ECNewsLive’s position
ECNewsLive has not found independent proof that any person or company named in the material committed wrongdoing.
Therefore, the claims remain allegations.
Readers should not treat them as proven facts.
Any finding of wrongdoing should come from verified evidence or a competent authority.
O.R. Tambo District Municipality said it supports proper public scrutiny.
However, it said public debate should rely on facts and official records.
ECNewsLive will continue to follow the matter.
We will report new developments when credible information becomes available.
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