By: Natasha Archary

Johannesburg Speaker, Colleen Makhubele has authorised an investigation into alleged corruption and fraud in the City of Joburg, that allegedly implicates both officials and councillors.
The Speak has accepted the advice and authorised that a legal opinion be sought and a preliminary investigation be conducted by a Senior Counsel.
This follows a disclosure made by one of the officials who was at the center of these rogue and clandestine investigations after various complaints that were submitted to the previous Speaker of Council, Vasco da Gama, and Executive Mayor, Mpho Phalatse.
“In its sitting of 21 June 2023, the Municipal Council took an unprecedented step and approved the report that was tabled by the executive and reviewing the rogue, clandestine, irregular and unlawful investigations of the Group Forensics and Investigation Services (GFIS) which were sanctioned by the previous administration to deal with political opponents and/or victimize senior officials.
The Speaker of Council accepted the advices and authorised that a legal opinion be sought and a preliminary investigation be conducted by a Senior Counsel.
This decision was taken by the Speaker of Council in terms of her powers in the promulgated the Municipal Structures Amendment Act 03 of 2021, specifically section 18 (h & j) which authorised her to exercise oversight over the executive and to ensure ethics and accountability of the Municipal Council.”
To fast-track the above processes, the Speaker of Council has impressed on the Executive Mayor and City Manager to ensure that a Senior Counsel is urgently appointed.
It is anticipated that the above legal opinion and preliminary investigation will be ready for consideration by the Municipal Council in the meeting which is scheduled for July 2023.
Therefore, Makubele appeals to affected parties to cooperate with the above processes, and to interested parties to allow the City of Johannesburg space to handle the matter with the care and sensitivity it deserves.
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