Eastern Cape diverted R300m for Mandela funeral, protector finds
Funds earmarked for social infrastructure projects were diverted to pay for the funeral and the former treasury head is in the firing line
The Eastern Cape provincial government "improperly diverted funds" amounting to R300m that were supposed to be spent on social infrastructure, to pay for president Nelson Mandela’s funeral, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has found. She told reporters in Pretoria on Monday that the money was in the custody of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation. On individual liability, she has recommended among other things that the provincial treasury of the Eastern Cape investigate the financial misconduct of then provincial treasury head Marion Mbina-Mthembu, and that appropriate steps are taken against her. Mkhwebane said Mbina-Mthembu instructed the corporation to make the payments. But Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle was cleared. It was found that R250,000 was paid into his personal account by the provincial treasury, but Mkhwebane said Masualle had requested that the transaction be reversed after he received the payment. The public protector said it was Mbina-Mthembu’s conduct...
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