City of Johannesburg council speaker Colleen Makhubele has called on councillors and individuals implicated in investigations surrounding the Group Forensics and Investigation Services (GFIS) department to cooperate.
During a media briefing on Thursday, Makhubele clarified the situation surrounding the GFIS issue and addressed false accusations made by opposition councillors. She also provided an overview of the situation that prompted the investigations.
According to the speaker, a high-ranking official from the GFIS department revealed on March 24 that they had received instructions from a Mr Sibiya to carry out unauthorised and secretive investigations targeting senior officials and council members.
Subsequent statements from the official on March 28 further substantiated these illicit activities.
After the council approved the executive mayor’s report on June 21, the city manager issued an advisory notice highlighting potential legal complications associated with certain resolutions passed.
The advisory recommended against the delegation of powers by the council and proposed an impartial assessment of the questionable investigations by an independent senior counsel.
Makhubele stressed that the DA’s allegations regarding the dismantling of the GFIS department are unfounded and contradicted by the advice provided by the city manager.
“I am providing these facts regarding the extent of the rot and illegality that was committed by the previous administration because it is hidden from the media,” Makhubele said.
“Also, the said disclosure confirmed the complaints that were submitted to councillors [Vasco] Da Gama, Mpho Phalatse and Knott regarding the conduct of GFIS, which they concealed from council.
“Subsequent to the adoption of the report of the executive mayor, on 23 June 2023, the city manager in his advisory notice pointed to legal challenges regarding certain resolutions that were passed by the council.
“His advice was that council must not delegate its powers and must also subject the questionable investigations of GFIS to a review by an independent senior counsel to advise which ones must be discharged or condoned or started afresh.
“The DA councillors are not citing this advice in the media because it does not support their false narrative that GFIS is being collapsed.
“We have assessed the disclosure that was made, the report of the executive mayor and advisory notice of the city manager, and I accepted the advice given in the notice.”
She expressed disappointment with the DA councillors for attacking her decisions and the city manager’s actions in exercising their legal powers and acting on evidence of fraud, corruption, and illegality concealed by the previous administration.
Makhubele also stressed that their actions were driven by a commitment to uncover the truth and fight against maladministration and corruption.
She also tackled misconceptions circulating in the media, clarifying that the intention is not to shut down the GFIS unit entirely, but rather to undertake necessary measures to ensure its operations comply with the law, are efficient, and maintain independence.
She also emphasized that the current structure and functioning of the GFIS unit do not adhere to the relevant legal frameworks in place.
“We regret that the DA councillors have made it a habit of issuing attacks and personal insults and threats against the members of the council.
“The investigation would therefore be in a position to assess objectively the information and ensure that the assessment caters that rights are well-protected and respected in the city. The investigation will seek to establish whether any laws were transgressed by the city and/or its unit.
“So, we invite them to share information and data that can support this investigation in an objective manner, evidence of corruption must be gathered and evaluated through an investigation.
“Owing to the unique nature of corruption, investigations often require significant expertise, knowledge, experience.
“We therefore wonder why the DA councillors are readily showing willingness to address the violations and maladministration committed by ANC and their coalition partners but do not find it worthwhile to establish the truth about those committed since the multiparty government was in power,” said Makhubele.
Makhubele, in an attempt to ensure the lawful and autonomous functioning of GFIS, declared the council’s intention to obtain a legal opinion from a well-regarded senior counsel, calling upon all parties affected or interested in the matter to refrain from interfering, and stressed the significance of regularizing GFIS’s activities.
She further extended an invitation to DA councillors, urging them to engage in constructive discussions with the appointed senior counsel.
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