uMngeni-uThukela Water: Call for transparent, rapid investigation into governance issues
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has been called on to ensure that the ministerial investigation into governance failures at uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) includes recent allegations that have made headlines.
Image: Independent Media Archives
Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has been called on to ensure that the ministerial investigation into governance failures at uMngeni-uThukela Water (UUW) includes recent allegations that have made headlines including a sponsored trip for an official to take part in the New York City Marathon.
In a statement on Monday, Stephen Moore, DA MP and spokesperson on Water and Sanitation said he had written to Majodina to demand that the overseas trip as well as other claims be fully investigated.
It was announced earlier this month that the Minister of Water and Sanitation intended to initiate a probe after reports of governance issues at the water board in KwaZulu-Natal.
In September, the UUW also came under scrutiny for the board fees paid to board members. The Mercury reported that one board member earned R1.5 million while attending approximately 14 meetings during that period.
Moore said Majodina’s investigation must begin urgently, and be fully transparent and the report must be published after the probe.
He said the investigation must look into:
- UUW sponsoring an official to the New York Marathon, including a R125 000.00 first-class airfare and additional expenses.
- Board “excess hours” payouts where directors paid themselves R2.6 million during the June 2024 ministerial transition, despite prior objections by the former Minister.
- Conflicts of interest: Claims that a law firm paid tens of millions by UUW hired the board chair’s daughter, and that another board member received substantial legal briefs from the same firm.
- Subsidiary governance failures: The removal of Khanyisani Stanley Shandu as chair of UUW’s subsidiary for undeclared interests, while he reportedly remains on the main Board for UUW.
Moore said the party will insist on a rapid and transparent investigation into UUW.
“Especially in the face of R125 000 of taxpayer money being spent on one flight for one public servant to fly to run a marathon.
“South Africans deserve clean governance with clean water. Transparency now is essential to restore public confidence.”