Allegations of Fraud Disrupt Tshwane Deputy Mayor Election

A significant controversy has unfolded in Tshwane, South Africa, as the election for the deputy mayor faced an abrupt halt amid serious fraud accusations. Nasiphi Moya, the ActionSA candidate and former chief of staff for ex-mayor Stevens Mokgalapa, has been at the center of contentious allegations put forward by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), leading to a procedural impasse in the council chamber.

The allegations raised by the EFF revolve around a past trip organized for city officials to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which included approval for financial expenditures reaching a total of R165,940. Documents reportedly viewed by TimesLIVE indicate that Moya approved the trip and expenses incurred, also having R10,010.50 deposited into her personal account, purportedly as "pocket money" for the journey.

The core of the EFF's accusation is that Moya did not accompany the delegation on this trip yet failed to reimburse the "pocket money" received from the city’s funds. The EFF's caucus leader, Obakeng Ramabodu, highlighted the necessity for clarity over these allegations, stressing that the action, if true, breaches the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). The EFF has taken a firm stand, questioning Moya's suitability for the deputy mayor's role and demanding evidence of the trip or reimbursement of the funds.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and calls from the EFF for Moya to elucidate the claims against her, Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana declined to permit Moya to respond during the council session. Instead, he directed that the matter will be taken up with the city manager's office for further investigation.

ActionSA, Moya's party, has categorically rejected the allegations presented by the EFF. Funzi Ngobeni, the Gauteng chairperson of ActionSA, condemned the accusations as baseless and criticized the EFF for not bringing the issue up at the time of the incident, especially when the EFF was in collaboration with the DA. Ngobeni suggested that the EFF's current stance depicted political grandstanding and a disingenuous concern for the city's expenditure.

The election, therefore, remained in limbo as the EFF, standing firm on their position, termed any proceeding with the election under these allegations as "fraudulent." With this statement, they exited the meeting, leaving a sense of uncertainty within the council.

The accusation against Moya and the subsequent deadlock indicates a deep-seated concern for transparency, legal compliance, and ethical governance within municipal structures. It underscores the imperative of scrutinizing elected officials' financial integrity and holding them accountable when needed, to maintain the public's trust.