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The Executive Mayor, Cllr. Geoffery Makhubo, on Friday, 06 March 2020, met with the office of the Auditor-General (AG), to discuss the financial state and health of the City.

In the deliberations, the office of the AG has highlighted some gross irregularities that have resulted in the City incurring an incredible R 3 billion in irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure for the 2018/19 financial year.

“These audited figures by the AG confirm what we raised in our media briefing of the 19th of February 2020. The AG’s report concurs with us that the financials of the City are reflective of some gross maladministration and possible fraud and corruption” said Mayor Makhubo.

“The irregular expenditure figures are a reflection of a systematic push to dismiss competent officials over the last three years and to corruptly manipulate the procurement processes of the City, particularly on the procurement of fleet services.”

“Also of concern is that the City has also lost over R 617 million of much needed service-delivery grants back to National Treasury over the last three financial years due to a failure to spend. Currently, a further R 237 million in transport infrastructure grants may be withdrawn and we are engaging Treasury to avert such as part of our efforts to turnaround the financial state of the City” added Mayor Makhubo 

These are monies that ought to have been utilized to improve roads, water, sanitation and human settlements infrastructure in the City of Johannesburg and for the benefit of residents who complain daily of potholes, leaking pipes, uncut grass in open spaces etc.

The Mayor has previously raised concerns on illegal procurement, poor contracting practices, delayed payments on creditors and unplanned, self-created emergency procurement situations under the previous administration.

 “Once more, as the Government of Local Unity (GLU) we will create an environment where maladministration bordering on fraud and corruption does not thrive in the City of Johannesburg. We want to assure residents of Johannesburg of our commitment to bring services and finances of the City back to normality.” concluded Mayor Makhubo

Issued by Private Office of the Mayor