City of Cape Town condemns corruption

Loyiso Langeni

25 May 2015

 

The City of Cape Town said it is committed to acting against corruption. This has recently one of the City’s Ombudsman Office was caught abusing his powers to defraud a resident in Bonteheuwel.

Mayor Spokesperson Zara Nicholson said a woman was interested in buying a property.

She had been incorrectly advised that the representative of the Ombudsman’s Office would be able to assist her.  This official claimed that he could do so for a fee of R1 000.

Nicholson emphasised that after a while, she had not seen any results and demanded action. He said this could be delivered for another R200, which she duly paid.

“This official never had any authority to assist with property transactions. He also had absolutely no right to charge for any services he may have offered payable directly to him. He took advantage of a vulnerable resident and abused his relative position of power for his own ends,” Nicolson added.

She concluded by saying that the matter was reported to the City and we immediately mandated our Forensic Services Department to investigate. As soon as the offending official’s actions were uncovered, criminal charges were laid against him and disciplinary charges were prepared. The matter was successfully prosecuted and he recently received a sentence for four years imprisonment.

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