By: Steve Motale
We have noted the attempts by a certain section of media and DA to recreate the impossible, of painting Minister Lindiwe Sisulu as corrupt. These attempts against Minister Sisulu will not stick as she is not corrupt. In fact, her track record of fighting against corruption speaks for itself.
One of the basic tenets of journalism demand that journalists should maintain independence from those they cover and avoid being seduced by sources. Sadly, the media outlets that DA MP Emma Powel ran to failed dismally in this task and allowed themselves to be used by a politician on a mission of self-interest. Let me be clear, there was nothing wrong with the media outlets hosting the politician. However, ethical and objective journalism demands that those against whom allegations are made should be given a chance to state their side of the story. This was sadly not done.
I am actually disappointed that the media has allowed itself to be used by a desperate politician whose motives have nothing to do with holding public representatives accountable. Powell doesn’t know anything about corruption cases brought by the same minister and is just a tool for propaganda. The minister has instituted a number of criminal cases against senior officials within water and a number of entities under her former portfolio.
These cases have led to the arrest of former Lepelle North Water CEO and subsequent resignation of Amatola Water former CEO Vuyo Zitumane and the dismissal of the SCM manager in Amatola water. These cases are being investigated by the SIU and Hawks, and the Minister has reported them to the same committee Powell serves. She must tell the nation what she has done to ensure everyone reported by the minister faces the full might of the law. Citizens of this country have been waiting for corruption to be crushed.
Right under her nose, Minister Sisulu has been investigating these cases and now she is crying over nothing and the AG would have picked it up if there were irregularities. Powell knows too that she has asked that the Public Protector to investigate her issues and is awaiting her final report soon. In her recent media crusade, something she has done repeatedly, Powell decided to single out Sisulu’s member of the advisory panel, Mphumzi Mdekazi, who she insinuated was a burden on the taxpayer.
She falsely stated that Mdekazi had claimed R1.76m on travel and accommodation since May 2019. She added that the claims were in addition to the “already hyperinflated” monthly salary of R142,920 Mdekazi received as an advisory committee member for 15 days’ work a month. Powell’s choice of words was very calculated and, it is sad, the media that entertained her did not verify what she was telling them. Firstly, for her to claim that Mdekazi claimed R1.76m is inaccurate and is meant to give the impression that that amount was paid to Mdekazi after he submitted a claim.
Truth whatever amount related to Mdekazi was not paid to him, the entire amount was paid directly into the bank account of a travel agency contracted by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Regarding Mdekazi’s “hyperinflated” monthly salary, Powell was once again very selective in what she told the media. Despite the concerns with regards to Mdekazi’s annual salary, the “honourable” MP failed to get a detailed report with regards to other members of the panel who are paid more than Mdekazi. None of the money was paid to Mdekazi or any member of the National Rapid Response Task Team (NRRTT).
These people had to drive more than 1400KM a day to ensure that people have water. During the hard lockdown, levels 4 and 5, there were no flights and people had to drive long distances because of their dedication. Minister Sisulu, drove more than three times the same distance of 1400KM between Gauteng and the Western Cape.
This team had an innovative way of bringing about water to communities and was highly praised by the NCOP to ensure people have water.
These members of the panel and NRRTT had to monitor water tanks and tankers during hard lockdown throughout the country. Mdekazi and Mr. Lulu Johnson were given specific tasks by the chairperson of the panel, Dr. Mitchele Kruger to attend all water and sanitation challenges in all provinces. Obviously, the DA MP is privy to this information. But she would never share it with the media because it will compromise her narrow racist agenda.
Again, Powell failed to prove any impropriety, criminality, or procedural flaws in whatever Mdekazi was paid. Ironically, her party is renowned for virtually on a daily basis opening criminal cases against politicians and bureaucrats implicated in corruption. If this is the case with Mdekazi, why doesn’t Powell and her party do the same and report him to law-enforcement agencies?
Another critical question that must be asked is whether there was value for money in what was paid to Mdekazi. And the answer is a resounding yes, and Powell knows this very well. Here are the facts. Mdekazi uncovered R84-m at Amatola Waterboard, where the former chief executive and wife of the Eastern Cape premier were implicated. Mdekazi uncovered R20-m advance payment between Amatola Water Board and OR Tambo Municipality. He again uncovered social facilitation tender (2020/030) which was an evergreen tender of R54-m paid but no work was done in Umngeni Water Board.
Mdekazi also uncovered R99-m and R17m in Sedibeng Waterboard for both Namaqualand and Walmagarara Water projects in the Northern Cape, which led to the resignation of the chief executive. Mdekazi also uncovered R95m in Lepelle Water, paid irregularly to two different companies. Mdekazi shook the file on the war on leaks, that is why the Lepelle Northern Water Board CEO left. When Minister Sisulu was moved, Mdekazi was busy with the corruption in the bucket eradication programme.
If all these monies are combined, it brings one to an amount of nearly R400-m. That’s the value of money Mdekazi was able to uncover for the government through all pursued forensic investigations he was behind. In the case of Amatola, criminal cases were opened, but to date, not a single arrest has been made despite overwhelming evidence being presented to investigators. It is difficult for one not to rule out political interference in this matter judging by the high-profile nature of individuals implicated. If Powell and her party have evidence and are convinced Mdekazi has a case to answer, why don’t they open a criminal case against him? Going to the media only tells one story -that they have nothing concrete against Mdekazi. And if Powell and the DA are serious about fighting corruption, why are they not demanding answers on the progress of the criminal cases opened against the former chief executive at Amatola Water Board and several other high-profile figures implicated in the looting of this Water Board?
Powell and the party’s failure to add their voices in condemnation of a complete lack of political will to prosecute those implicated in Amatola Water Board corruption, and instead focus on destroying an individual who is fighting and exposing graft lays bare their hypocrisy and how they pay lip service to the fight against corruption. In this regard, Minister Sisulu will in due course report Powell to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee for taking Parliamentary questions to the media without the permission of the Speaker of Parliament and the relevant portfolio committee.
*Steve Motale is Minister Sisulu’s Spokesperson
