Foiled Heist: Zululand District Dodges R33 Million Theft Attempt

In an utter breach of trust, the Zululand District Municipality became the target of an unscrupulous scheme to siphon off a whopping R33 million from its coffers. It is in moments such as these that the resilience of governance in South Africa is tested against the insidious threat of corruption and organised crime.

The elaborate plot was hatched by unidentified malefactors who sought to exploit the financial resources intended for public service, placing residents and taxpayers at the mercy of deceit. This alarming threat was neutralised thanks to the vigilance of the bank’s anti-fraud mechanisms and the astuteness of municipal manager Ntokozo Hlongwa.

Responding to an enquiry by Independent Media, set off by the claims of the EFF in KwaZulu-Natal pronouncing the funds to have been claimed by Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi, Hlongwa was adamant in his refutation. His declaration assured residents that their trust in the municipality's safeguarding capabilities wasn't misplaced. The money, he affirmed, remained untouched within the municipal treasury, contradicting the narrative that it had vanished.

Alarmingly, on the 27th of December, there was a critical alert. The Absa Anti-Fraud Unit reported an attempted incursion into the municipal account, catalysing an internal review and igniting proactive measures. A criminal investigation intertwined with this internal probe as a case unfurled at the Ulundi police station, unpacking the tendrils of the attempted theft.

As promised by Hlongwa, who emphasised coherence with the unfolding investigation, no resources had been siphoned. Such reassurance flows against the backdrop of an ongoing narrative that has entwined Mayor Thulasizwe Buthelezi in a web of allegations since taking up the mayoral mantle in 2017.

A fierce campaign appears to have embroiled Buthelezi, pitching the armor of his reputation against a barrage of accusations, ranging from misfeasance to personal misconduct. In 2021, his re-entry into the mayoral office, with the collaborative aid of EFF’s Thulani Ndlovu as the deputy mayor, has been far from serene. Calling the allegations a smear campaign extends to an email that surfaced last year, levying serious claims against Buthelezi's character, dabbling in allegations of sexual coercion.

Within the accursed email, a voice of desperation emanates from a reported female employee under duress, who depicts a grim scenario of misuse of authority by Buthelezi, a claim he vehemently denies. A demand for substantiation through an official investigation resonates from Buthelezi's address, conveyed amid condemnation of the allegations and an appeal for transparency.

The gravity of these accusations is palpable, and Buthelezi stands his ground, utilizing his track record and character testimonials against his detractors, drawing support from various female employees who have expressed solidarity.

The saga unfolds amid a cacophony of approval and aspersion, where the truth seems as opaque as the intended theft itself was covert. Yet the Zululand District Municipality stands resilient. The veracity of the foiled theft underscores the necessity of robust financial controls, while the shadow cast by slander accentuates the volatility of public perception and the continuous call for justice and transparency in South African public life.