DA calls for forensic investigation into NMB Electricity and Energy Directorate - Democratic Alliance

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the office of Nelson Mandela Bay’s Acting City Manager to request an urgent and comprehensive forensic investigation into all procurement activities within the Electricity and Energy Directorate. [Download letter here] Serious concerns have emerged from Internal Audit reports, SIU investigations and related procurement processes within the Electricity and Energy Directorate. The evidence before the Nelson Mandela Bay Council points not to isolated incidents, but to a sustained and systemic failure in procurement governance over several years. These findings necessitate an immediate, transparent, and comprehensive investigation, dating back to at least 2017. A legal opinion dated 30 September 2024 reinforces the urgency of a formal investigation into one specific tender. The opinion concludes that the tender process in question was fundamentally flawed and should not proceed. Irregularities include unauthorised and irregular expenditure, payments lacking adequate supporting documentation, and work conducted beyond approved contract scope. The report further identifies the repeated use of deviations and contract extensions to circumvent competitive procurement requirements. Crucially, these are not legacy issues and they also persist in more recent tenders. Despite the availability of these findings, there has been no decisive administrative response. This lack of action highlights the need for an independent forensic investigation to establish accountability and prevent further financial and reputational harm. The investigation requested by the DA must be supported by the immediate preservation and release of all relevant Internal Audit and SIU reports, as well as full disclosure of implicated officials and contractors. To prevent further financial losses and continued erosion of public trust there can be no delay in acting. The people of Nelson Mandela Bay deserve better than a failed mayor and unstable coalition government, and that is only possible if all residents vote for a DA government in the 2026 local government election. Together we can get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.