Our reply to Mr Bloem's question is that the department was informed of the allegations of corruption in the Matjhabeng Municipality during the 2009-10 financial year.
The MEC then appointed an investigating team in terms of section 106(1)(b) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act. Details of maladministration and irregularities at the municipality are contained in the report of the investigating team. This report will soon be tabled in the municipal council and thereby become a public document.
I am informed, by the way, that the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs invited the relevant people to appear before it, I think on 23 August, but the meeting was postponed. I gather that the committee will very shortly be seeing the representatives of the municipality who are relevant here. So, presumably there too, through the committee, you will get a first-hand idea of how things stand.
In reply to part (2) of the question, the department has indeed conducted an investigation through an investigating team appointed by the MEC in terms of the relevant section of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act.
Concerning subsection (b) of part (2) of the question, the municipal council will take appropriate action regarding these allegations, once the report has been tabled before it. The provincial department will assist the municipality in this regard, if and when it is required.
In reply to subsection (ii) of part (b) of the second part of the question, the provincial head has informed the office of the Minister about the section 106 investigation, as required by subsection 3. The report will be forwarded to the office of the Minister in due course.
Regarding subsection (iii) of part (b) of the second part of the question, the amount of the municipality's budget which was found to be wasteful and fruitless expenditure is as follows: Unauthorised expenditure is R216 million; fruitless and wasteful expenditure R14,1 million; and irregular expenditure R14,3 million.
Subsections (iv) and (v) of part (b) of the second part of the question are replied to as follows: The council of the municipality will identify allegedly corrupt employees when the report is tabled before it. It will then take appropriate action against those found to have transgressed the law. To date, no employee has been suspended or dismissed following the report. Thank you.