The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s role in the corrupt awarding of a tender in Ba-Phalaborwa local municipality represents a foundational example of behaviour undermining the country’s local government sector.

This included a lack of capacity to conduct basic functions, reliance on consultants, and the misuse of power by officials to influence tenders and practice corrupt activities, the party highlighted.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) announced it had concluded its investigation into charges and allegations of fraud and corruption against Ntshavheni.

The investigation came after charges were laid against Ntshavheni in 2021 in relation to her role in the irregular awarding of a R2.5-million tender for accounting consultancy services during her tenure as the municipal manager of the Ba-Phalaborwa local municipality.

The EFF averred that municipal managers had become a law unto themselves, saying Ntshavheni was representative of “arrogance and flouting of laws” by officials at local government level.

“Ntshavheni also represents the patronage that has defined President Cyril Ramaphosa's tenure as President of South Africa, as despite all her failures and sordid corruption, she now presides over State Security with impunity, while the nation fails to combat mass shootings, [and[ human and drug trafficking under her watch,” the EFF explained.

The party highlighted that this was testament to how the claims of “renewal and anti-corruption by government are nothing but lip service”.

The EFF said the people of South Africa must continue to punish the African National Congress for its “arrogance and corruption”.

The party noted what it termed the lengthy DPCI’s investigation process against Ntshavheni, which it said reflected the slow pace of the country’s institutions in handling matters of corruption that involved high-ranking government officials.

The EFF said for decades, Ntshavheni had been safe under Ramaphosa’s “patronage as his lieutenant and has avoided accountability for her numerous scandals over the years because of her close association with the President”.

“It is public knowledge that Minister Ntshavheni is one of Ramaphosa’s closest confidants and was at the centre of his 2017 campaign to lead the former ruling party and ascend to the position of President of South Africa. Since she successfully delivered Ramaphosa, she has been awarded with senior roles as a Minister, all of which she has left with a dark cloud of corruption and misuse of taxpayer’s money,” the EFF highlighted.