By Thabo Monyela
GIYANI- Mopani District Municipal Council resolves to take firm steps against the official (s) who shall be found to have committed the financial misconduct of doubling the salaries of some council members and municipal staff on 20 December 2023.
During its special sitting on Monday, January 08, the district municipality council deliberated on the report detailing the overpayment of salaries to 51 councillors and 210 officials and further resolved to refer the report to the financial misconduct board for further investigation.
As detailed in the report, an amount of over R4.5 million was paid as duplicate salaries to the councillors, municipal officials and the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in December.
A total amount of over R1.9 million was paid to the EPWPs and councillors received R665 840,81, while the remaining amount was paid to senior managers, deputy managers and other officials of the municipality.
The district municipality has, as of last week, managed to recover 15% of the R4.5 million, which amounts to R696 459.91.
The municipal spokesperson Odas Ngobeni said they are currently working with the banks and there is no indication of resistance from the salary duplication beneficiaries, and by the end of the month, the remaining amount will be paid in full.
” Council holds the view that the report from the Financial Management Board will help strengthen the internal control measures and will monitor the implementation of the financial recovery plan and the consequence management plan” said Ngobeni.
The financial misconduct investigation report into the salary duplications will be available after 21 days, as of 8 January 2023, for the municipality to take steps against those who might be implicated.
