Nelson Mandela Bay councillors have demanded a report on the alleged theft of truck tyres worth R5m after officials were unable to give detailed information about the matter.
It was disclosed at a public health committee meeting last week that the tyres had allegedly been stolen from the depot in July and August.
However, uncertainty surrounds the purported theft as it is not clear if they were even ordered or delivered.
The matter was first raised when it was revealed at a committee meeting in November that only five out of a fleet of 49 refuse collection trucks were operational, with the municipality having to fork out an extra R60m to hire private trucks to keep the city clean.
ANC councillor Bongani Mani filed a motion at a council meeting on Thursday.
He called for acting city manager Sidima Dyani, public health executive director Sizwe Mvunelwa and roads and transport acting executive director Yussuf Gaffore to provide a report on the matter.
In the motion, Mani said if any wrongdoing was found it should be reported formally to the relevant committees and a case should be opened with the police.
“At a roads and transport oversight visit on November 14, the acting deputy director for fleet management, Zukile Magongo, was not aware of any tyres purchased or stored or, even worse, the theft thereof.
“He went further to explain the process that is followed in procuring tyres and indicated that he had written to Mvunelwa to seek clarity on the matter to no reply,” the motion reads.
During the meeting, ANC councillor Gamalihleli Maqula said a request had been made in the previous council meeting that Dyani bring a report on what happened.
“Also, councillor [Bradley] Murray [political head for roads and transport] must tell us what he did, if anything, after he found out that there were missing tyres.
Murray said he had written to the public health, safety and security and budget and treasury directorates requesting answers on the issue.
But only public health had responded.
“I'm in full support of what the motion and council seeks to happen,” he said.
“[The] acting city manager must make sure that in the next 24 hours officials from the two departments that did not respond bring their reports to a roads and transport committee on Monday.”
Dyani said the matter had been referred to the internal audit unit and had not yet been finalised.
“I had conversations with Magongo and supply chain officials.
“Once the report has been concluded by internal audit, we will be able to bring it to the council meeting.”
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.