President Jacob Zuma has referred to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) the request by Johannesburg ombudsman S’du Gumede to establish a commission of inquiry into alleged maladministration and irregularities in the City of Johannesburg. Gumede was suspended on May 9. The Labour Court declared his suspension unlawful and overturned it. The city was denied leave to appeal against the judgment. In a letter to Gumede, Cassius Lubisi, the director-general in the Presidency, said the issues Gumede raised could be best dealt with by the SIU. The city ombudsman investigates complaints of maladministration and allegations of abuse of human rights by the municipality and its officials on behalf of the public and ratepayers. In a letter to the Presidency calling for a commission of inquiry, Gumede said the municipality had failed to comply with and to account for the operation of the office of the ombudsman in terms of its budget, remuneration, staffing, office infrastructure and equipment,...

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