Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mayor Princess Faku and the manager in her office, Ntsikelelo Mcingane, have not been paying for their rates and services, jointly owing over R100, 000.
Sunday World has seen Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality records dated
November 23, 2024, which show that Faku owes R30 088.89 and Mcingane owes R71 802.46 in unpaid rates and services.
ANC provincial secretary general, Lulama Ngcukayithobi, said he was disappointed about the accusations against the Faku and Mcingane, as they “expect all leaders to lead by
example”.
“When we call people to pay rates and services, we have to set an example and be the ones to pay or make arrangements and honour such arrangements to pay. It’s obvious that I don’t have facts and therefore can’t pass a personal judgment on the matter,” Ngcukayithobi said.
Ngcukayithobi claimed that his previous disconnect was due to his failure to pay his municipal rates and services.
“I personally get disconnected and have to make upfront payments and arrangements, so the expectation is that all of us as residents of BCM should follow that example in order to sustain better revenue collection.”
Faku is also accused of chairing a council meeting where Nomfanelo Yvonne Mqoqi-Mondi was, allegedly, irregularly appointed as the head of the department for infrastructure services.
Sources within the municipality claim that Faku approved Mqoqi-Mondi’s appointment when she did not meet the minimum requirements for the post.
When asked about Mqoqi-Mondi’s appointment, Ngcukayithobi said: “The municipality and council must give definite answers.
“No council can appoint an incompetent person, knowing the magnitude of the expected work to be performed in BCM. Anyone who breaches the law, there are mechanisms to deal with.”
On Friday, Faku refused to confirm whether or not she has paid for her rates and
services, citing the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA).
Stringent legal, administrative, and ethical standards govern the municipality’s financial management processes, including the collection of municipal rates, she added.
The municipality regularly audits these processes to ensure transparency and appropriate statutory mechanisms to review any alleged irregularities.
Faku also acknowledged that it is legally required of all council members and municipal officials to keep their municipal accounts in good standing.
“It must be noted that instances may arise where disputes concerning such accounts occur. In such cases, the law provides that disputed accounts cannot be classified as being in arrears until the dispute has been resolved in accordance with due process.
“The municipality consistently advocates for the expeditious and fair resolution of such disputes to ensure compliance and accountability. Consequently, the assertion that the leadership of the municipality are ‘bad payers’ is unfounded and is hereby repudiated in the strongest possible terms,” she explained.
Faku refuted the claim that Mqoqi-Mondi’s appointment as the head of department of infrastructure services was irregular.
“The appointment of the head of department: infrastructure services was conducted in strict adherence to all applicable legislative and regulatory frameworks.”
