Graft tipoff councillor in hiding

A DA councillor who blew the whistle on an alleged housing scandal in KwaZulu-Natal has gone into hiding after the ANC-led municipality did not provide him with bodyguards.

Thokozani Gumede, a proportional representative in Kwa-Dukuza, has been living out of his suitcase and missed three months of council work because he is afraid to return to the north coast town.

Last week, the Public Service Commission said tip-offs to its national anti-corruption hotline had led to 5409 investigations but 3000 of these had not been finalised.

Gumede yesterday said he had written to several community newspapers in March about the local municipality demolishing shacks and tuck shops to make way for a housing development to serve families from outside the district.

He further alleged that a municipal official had demanded R500 from each family before he could place them on the housing waiting list.

In his affadavit, Gumede also alleged that a hitman was paid R7000 to eliminate him.

At some point, four occupants in a car with false number plates kept his home under surveillance.

After a conspiracy to murder case was opened, police conducted a threat analysis and recommended that the municipality provide Gumede with security protection.

However, municipal manager Nhlahla Mdakane claimed the recommendation letter was contradictory.

But the provincial head of crime intelligence, Brigadier Thuso Tshika, responded that the format of the analysis was standardised and that the recommendation was still valid.

Mdakane yesterday claimed he did not receive Tshika's response.

He said the council did not have a budget for councillors' security but conceded that mayor Ricardo Mthembu and ward councillor and Ilembe district speaker Thokozani Msweli had bodyguards.

DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Sizwe Mchunu said if the municipality did not provide Gumede with bodyguards the party would take the matter up with the provincial safety and security department and with Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Provincial cooperative governance department spokesman Lennox Mabaso said the matter, including why Gumede had not been given bodyguards, would be investigated.