aid reportedy stolen by eThekwini municipality staff
Twitter screen grab
KZN floods: eThekwini denies STEALING aid meant for rescuers [WATCH]
In a clip that has gone viral, a woman taking the video is heard saying the goods donated by Durban North residents were being stolen
aid reportedy stolen by eThekwini municipality staff
Twitter screen grab
The eThekwini Municipality has come out guns blazing against claims that it stole aid that was meant for rescue crews attending to the aftermath of the devastating floods.
In a clip that has since gone viral on Twitter, a woman taking the video is heard saying the goods were being stolen. The video shows black plastic bags on the back of a truck – and two others belonging to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and eThekwini Municipality.
“They came and loaded truck loads in here and are busy stealing the aid,” she can be heard saying in the clip.
It has since been reported that the goods were eventually returned. The aid has been donated by residents of Durban North.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: ‘No room for corruption’ – Ramaphosa on funds availed for KZN floods
STEALING AID? HERE’S WHAT ETHEKWINI MUNICPALITY SAYS
In a statement released on its Facebook page on Monday evening, 18 April, eThekwini has clarified that the woman shown in the clip wasn’t stealing the aid and was actually delivering the goods.
“The driver was not stealing. She is one of our employees in the Community Participation Unit and is assigned to deliver donation to one of the townships. We can also confirm reports that some of residents are insisting that their donated goods be delivered to areas of their choice and typically the areas they dictate are not the most impacted. It is unfortunate that the employee in questions has had her reputation tarnished in this manner”
The eThekwini Municipality
The provision of aid has prompted concerns about corruption rearing its ugly head, something even Premier Sihle Zikalala acknowledged.
“We want to emphasise the fact that, having leant the lessons of Covid-19, no amount of corruption, maladministration and fraud will be tolerated or associated with this province. We want to assure our communities that all the funds will be used prudently and that no one will be allowed to feast on the suffering of our people in order to line their pockets,”
