Thieving councillors

An investigation by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has found widespread maladministration in the Dipaleseng municipality, in Balfour, Mpumalanga.

Madonsela found a string of cases of maladministration, including credit-note fraud, theft of electricity, and a lack of debt and revenue management.

"The interim findings of an investigation into theft and fraud by clerks and cashiers at the municipality's offices identified credit-note fraud in excess of R1.5-million. Clerks issued fraudulent credit notes to write off accounts outstanding in return for bribes," said Madonsela. Her investigators also found that a host of people - including councillors - stole electricity through illegal connections.

" . One of the major challenges facing the municipality is the collection of revenue. The theft of electricity was identified as the main cause of the loss of revenue for the municipality," Madonsela said.

She launched the investigation in 2010 following a number of violent service- delivery protests in Siyathemba, outside Balfour.