Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape have filed a criminal case against the Enoch Mgijima local municipality over the alleged wasteful expenditure of the newly developed Lesseyton stadium.
EFF files criminal charges: Here’s what we know
In a press statement released on Wednesday, the Julius Malema-led opposition party confirmed that a case of corruption was filed at a police station in Komani against the Enoch Mgijima local municipality leadership.
The matter involves the controversial unveiling of the sports venue earlier this week. In a Facebook post that’s since been deleted, the municipality posted images of the stadium, claiming that R15 million was spent on developing the facility.
According to the EFF, this total, which has now been increased to R22 million, is not justified in the images of the stadium that have since gone viral.
“There are glaring signs of money laundering and corruption in the entire project, and we have entrusted the criminal justice system to investigate and unearth the truth,” the EFF wrote.
Enoch Mgijima stadium: Here’s what the millions were spent on
In an effort to douse the inferno that was set off against the municipality, members of the ANC-led district claimed that the millions earmarked for the project were spent on:
- palisade fencing
- rock blasting
- earth works
- layer works
- rugby and soccer field
- athletics track
- ablution facilities
- changing rooms
- borehole
- water reticulation installation
- sewer system with septic tank
- electrical installation
- rain water catchment tank
- high-rise water main tank
- guard house
- gravel car parking area
According to the Red Berets, something is amiss, especially since in this administrative term, the Auditor-General has “raised alarm about the flouting of Public Finance Management Act and the collapse of internal financial controls in the municipality.”
“The EFF is aware that municipalities have become the biggest ANC’s source of unscrupulous funds, and the collapse of many Eastern Cape municipalities is due to the ANC’s looting of municipal funds to finance their struggling organisation and to fund local government elections campaign,” the party wrote.
Eastern Cape MEC Xolile Nqatha has called for an investigation into the Enoch Mgijima stadium unveiling.
