Sisulu part of a dirty scheme in her ministry, says DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) continues to zero in on Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and has claims to have evidence that points to her misconduct in her portfolio.

The DA has cited a series of matters including Sisulu’s  National Rapid Response Task Team (NRRTT) and the dissolution of the Amatola Water Board – and also claims to be in possession of proof of the minister’s questionable doings.

Authorities should investigate the NRRTT

“The DA is now in a position to shed further evidence of what appears to be a filthy political stitch up”, said DA MP Emma Powell.

Powell said she was finalising an affidavit with a lawyer to give to the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Monday, 18 May 2020.

“I had hoped to do it on Friday afternoon but had a meeting that lasted until 18h00”, Powell said.

The minister is said to have disbanded her NRRTT advisory group after accusing them of going rogue – including going to the lengths of discrediting her.

“These activities of these members left me with another perception: that some members joined the NRRTT to pursue business interests and/or easy wealth accumulation at the expense of the good cause”, Sisulu is quoted as saying.

The opposition has also raised questions surrounding the minister’s decision to dissolve the Amatola Water Board.

 “The board has long been characterized by instability and infighting, which has rendered Amatola Water dysfunctional. Minister Sisulu has now concluded that ending the term of office of the current interim board and appointing legal administrators to manage the affairs of Amatola Water is the only practical solution left to address the enduring instability”, the Ministry said at the time.

The board’s current CEO Vuyo Zitumane was placed on suspension in April 2020 and claims she is being targeted because of a R230 million project for sand abstraction, which is a method of drawing from sandy waters.

Zitumane deposed to an affidavit the same day, noting serious allegations of attempted procurement meddling by the Ministry.

“Zitumane is said to have resisted alleged coercion by the Minister, via her advisor, to award 60% of the R230 million drought relief funding allocated to the Board, to a company named Empowering Water Solutions”, Powell further added.

The DA has said that attempts to expose the full facts of the matter are not indicative of support for the CEOs concerned, or of the Boards themselves.