Herman Mashaba vows to challenge Mkhwebane report

The Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, will have to gear up for another legal challenge, as the former Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, confirms he will be taking her findings into alleged irregular appointments made during his tenure on judicial review.

Addressing the public on his official Twitter account, Mashaba says briefly that he finds the report to be disappointing and vows not only to challenge its merits in the High Court but will also seek a cost order against the Public Protector

CITY OF JOBURG WELCOMES PP REPORT

Meanwhile the City of Johannesburg, under the helm of Geoff Makhubo has welcomed the report, and pledges to get the ball rolling in swiftly implementing Mkhwebane’s recommendations.

The incumbent Public Protector has recommended that the Joburg city manager must hand the report over to the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs within a period of 30 working days from the release of the report, for redress.

Makhubo who is one of Mashaba’s most vocal critics further says his office will be looking into instituting legal action against his predecessor based on the report.

“We have always maintained that the rhetoric and PR of the former Mayor were not in sync with the reality and objective facts on the City’s performance and stability. This is also backed by the reports of the Auditor-General,”

City of Johanesburg Mayor, Geoff Makhubo

THE APPOINTMENT OF THE JMPD CHIEF

While Mashaba has been found to have meddled in varying procurement processes, it is the appointment of David Tembe as the head of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) that has attracted the most attention.

“The PP findings are in line with our own understanding that Mr Tembe was never the most suitable and recommended candidate for the position. It is the former Mayor who parachuted him from being number five on the list of recommended candidates to being the preferred candidate for appointment.”

“Four capable candidates were overlooked in the interests of cronyism which is evidenced by the current position of the former Chief of Police within the political hopes of the former Mayor”

City of Johannesburg

MASHABA MEDDLED IN PROCUREMENT PROCESSES

The appointment of Moses Metileni, to the position of executive director responsible for housing has also been flagged, with Mkhwebane finding that due processes were not followed in appointing Metileni to the position.

Furthermore, Mashaba has been found to have meddled in procurement processes by ensuring the city roped in Lephatsi Financial Services as a provider. The company is reportedly affiliated to his wife, which amounts to a “conflict of interest”.

The adverse findings have tainted the former Mayor’s tenure as the commander in chief of the City of Gold.