Question NW1672 to the Minister of Public Works
12 September 2016 - NW1672
Kohler-Barnard, Ms D to ask the Minister of Public Works
How many (a) cases of fraud and corruption in the Expanded Public Works Programme did his department investigate in the (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14, (iii) 2014-15 and (iv) 2015-16 financial years, (b) of the specified cases involved ward councillors, (c)(i) criminal charges were laid and (ii) cases were successfully prosecuted and (d) ward councillors were subsequently removed from their positions in each specified financial year?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works
(a) (i), (ii) and (ii) No cases of fraud were reported to the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) with regard the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), in the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 financial years.
(ii) In the 2015-16 financial year there was one case of a Ward Councillor from the eThekwini Municipality.
(b) (c) (i) and (ii) and (d) The NDPW immediate engaged the Municipality on this case and thereafter it was referred to the Municipality Ombudsman (Integrity Unit) for further investigation. The Ward Councillor unfortunately passed away during the course of the investigation. No criminal case was registered as a result of the death of the Ward Councillor. At the time of death the said individual was still serving as a Ward Councillor and had not been removed from their position.
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