Grandi Theunissen (Photo: X/VF Plus)
It is now no longer just the DA but also the FF Plus in Tshwane who are attacking the ANC after damning allegations of corruption and tender manipulation in the metro came to light.
The ANC in the greater Tshwane region claims that the previous DA-led administration and “those who were in power together (with the DA)” are responsible for the corruption in the Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) and the eventual collapse of the entire management system in the metro.
At the time, the FF Plus was part of this administration with Grandi Theunissen who served as mayoral committee member for community safety in the Tshwane metro council during the administration.
The party is now stepping into the breach for Theunissen.
“The FF Plus emphasizes that its mayoral committee member for community safety has a proven record of active action against corruption. His term was characterized by the dismissal of officers involved in extortion and the insistence on forensic reports to expose fraud in the TMPD.”
At the time, Maroela Media also reported in detail about Theunissen’s fight against, among other things, corrupt metro police officers.
Archive photo to illustrate the TMPD. (Photo: TMPD/X)
The FF Plus now says certain statements from the ANC, including those of George Matjila, the ANC’s regional secretary, are nothing more than a transparent attempt to divert attention from the real corruption crisis in the metro.
The FF Plus is now challenging the ANC to give answers about, among other things, the lack of security clearances in the TMPD and the controversial Triotic tender of R2.9 billion – all issues that recently came up in the Madlanga commission of inquiry.
The party points out that during the previous administration, officers in the selection unit were removed because they failed their clearances for the State Security Agency (SSA).
“There were serious allegations that these officers blackmailed colleagues into concealing criminal records. This action was based on documented risks and was supported by TMPD leadership at the time.
“If the ANC claims that these removals were illegal, the FF Plus challenges Mr. Matjila to present valid SSA clearance certificates for those specific persons.”
Triotic Protection Services was recently identified before the Madlanga Commission as a key beneficiary of the contested tender.
Forensic investigations indicate that Eugene Modise, the deputy mayor of Tshwane, may not have fully or timely declared or relinquished his interests in the company.
Eugene Modise, Deputy Mayor of Tshwane. (Photo: X)
The FF Plus is now demanding a complete audit trail of any alleged sale of its shares, as well as transparency on why this company is still favored with municipal contracts.
The party also demands answers about the alleged “water tanker mafia” and infrastructure decay.
“Under the current ActionSA/ANC-led coalition, expenditure on private water tankers has soared to hundreds of millions of rands, while the metro’s own infrastructure is deteriorating. Evidence links Mr Matjila to inquiries about alleged payments to tanker companies with deficient documentation. The public has the right to know what role political figures play in the deliberate reliance on private water tankers at the expense of permanent repairs to the water network.
The FF Plus welcomes the Madlanga Commission’s investigation into irregular security tenders worth around R2.9 billion.
“The Madlanga Commission is not a political instrument for ‘victimization’, but a necessary process to uncover corruption down to the bone. The FF Plus demands that the commission complete its work without political interference,” says the party.
“The party invites the ANC leadership to cooperate by making all relevant documents, clearance certificates and transaction records available to the commission and the public.”