Eastern Cape government stole millions from taxpayers to fund Madiba funeral

NORTH WEST, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 23: Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane during a stakeholder engagement at the Provincial Legislature on March 23, 27 in North West, South Africa. Mkhwebane is in a four-month roadshow where she introduces herself to stakeholders and spells out her vision for next seven years. (Photo by Gallo Images / […]

Eastern Cape government stole millions from taxpayers to fund Madiba funeral

The ill-prepared provincial government stooped to the lowest of lows to fund Madiba’s send off

Eastern Cape government stole millions from taxpayers to fund Madiba funeral

NORTH WEST, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 23: Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane during a stakeholder engagement at the Provincial Legislature on March 23, 27 in North West, South Africa. Mkhwebane is in a four-month roadshow where she introduces herself to stakeholders and spells out her vision for next seven years. (Photo by Gallo Images / […]

Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane’s report into “Improper Conduct and Maladministration” by the Eastern Cape government regarding the funeral of Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela has turned up some shocking results.

As reported by the Daily Maverick, the provincial branches of government were so underwhelmingly prepared for Madiba’s funeral, they eventually had to loot state funds in order to pull a ceremony out of the bag. Truly, nothing can be seen as sacred in this country.

Nelson Mandela passed away four years ago to this day, on 5th December 2013. He had been fighting a respiratory illness for a prolonged period of time. In fact, the Eastern Cape government were told as early as 2008 to start making provisions for his funeral – the plan had been labelled ‘Project X’ by the powers that be.

The funeral of Madiba used to loot taxpayer money

The EC’s R330-million provincial infrastructure fund was hit hardest, and targeted by the serial offender in this debacle, Marion Mbina-Mthembu. She pushed ahead with draining cash from the fund set aside to make life better for the poor. The irony of doing this for Nelson Mandela’s funeral is disgusting.

Much of the money was spent on frivolous items, such as takeaways for security staff and t-shirts to be worn by attendees. Both were unnecessary expenditures, but Treasury Head Mbina-Mthembu justified the looting by saying this fell under an ’emergency situation’.

What emergencies do you know that give you a five-year warning in advance? The trail of illicit funding doesn’t stop there, either. Local publication Daily Dispatch also uncovered that MMM authorised a R250,000 transfer of government funds in to then-Eastern Cape MEC Phumulo Masualle’s bank account.

Millions plundered after poor preparation

According to the report, this was allegedly to “cover the costs relating to meetings and entertainment for dignitaries coming to attend the funeral”.

Erroneous payments were also made to fund a Qunu night vigil (which never happened) and even ended up with the ANC Women’s League bagging themselves a new PA system, which they would go on to use mainly on the campaign trail.

Mkhwebane’s report is saddening, and utterly frustrating. But, it’s also unflinching and incredibly detailed. If the spirit of Madiba is to live on, charges will be brought against those who tried to cash in from his death.