DA wants full inquiry on Mmemezi land sale scandal

The DA will request a full inquiry by Local Government and Housing MEC Ntombi Mekgwe into an alleged land scale scandal involving her controversial predecessor Humphrey Mmemezi. The MEC must conduct a full audit on all land transactions within her department to determine the scale of possible land fraud and corruption, following further details of the R20 million deal in the Star today.

The serious allegations include claims that Mmemezi misrepresented himself by signing as the departmental head and not the MEC. The DA will also submit a question regarding this matter to MEC Mekgwe for oral reply to the legislature at its sitting in two weeks.

A disturbing report in the Sunday World yesterday alleged that disgraced former Local Government and Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi may have been involved in illegally selling government land on the West Rand. The report claims that the elite priority crime investigation unit - the Hawks - are closing in on Mmemezi.

Mmemezi might find himself in jail for fraud and corruption if found to have been responsible for the sale of the land. His defence that his signature was misused by corrupt officials within his former department is even more disturbing and points to serious governance deficiencies under his watch. Whatever the truth, it will point to a provincial government department that was beset by turmoil and governance failures under Mmemezi's leadership.

Of great concern is the fact that government land was sold to private developers while both Mmemezi and his department's officials were aware of the serious land shortage for housing in Gauteng.

According to the reports the City of Johannesburg had already completed planning the development and servicing of the land in question. The value of these actions weren't recovered in the low sale price of the land. These losses must be recovered from all those involved in this dubious transaction.

I trust that the MEC will pursue this matter with the urgency it deserves and that the department and provincial government get closure on the destructive Mmemezi chapter once and for all.

Statement issued by Fred Nel MPL, DA Gauteng Local Government Spokesperson, February 18 2013

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