The Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that the Eastern Cape provincial government improperly redirected about R300 million of public funds to pay for the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela.
She found that some of the funds were meant for the provision of running water, electricity sanitation, ablution facilities, replacement of mud-schools and refurbishing hospitals.
Mandela died on December 5, 2013 and was buried on December 15 at his home town in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
The Public Protector found that a lack of proper planning of the Eastern Cape Provincial government created an environment for irregularities to flourish during the planning and execution of the funeral of former president Nelson Mandela.
“The cause of this problem was that the Eastern Cape Provincial Government was instructed, because the late president indicated he wanted to be buried in Qunu, though the preparations already started in 2011, but when the incident occurred they had to look for money they didn’t have.”
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation, the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality as well as the O.R Tambo District Municipality were identified as places where money was unlawfully wasted.
The report of 333 pages contains incidents for example where R350 was paid for one t-Shirt.
She also fingered executive mayor and councillors of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality who allegedly put the ANC’s interest before that of the municipality by paying a service provider nearly R6 million from public funds to transport mourners to four venues.
“The Executive Mayor and councillor of the BCM municipal council acted in violation of the code of conduct for councillors by putting the interest of the ANC, instead of that of the BCM first, they acted dishonestly, without good faith and in a manner that compromised the integrity of the BCM.”
Mkhwebane’s remedial action includes that the Special Investigations Unit investigate the allegations that is contained in the report.
She further recommends that the Minister of Finance establish a task team consisting of the entire role-players at all levels of government to develop a coordinated plan for the eventuality of state funerals with a list of accredited service providers.
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