We put city on the map - Mpisane

INLSA

File photo: Sbu Mpisane

The husband of Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mpisane has called into question, city manager S’bu Sithole’s motive for investigating her low-cost housing contracts, claiming that his wife’s company had “put the city on the map”.

He was asked by the Daily News to comment on Sithole’s probe into how and why Shauwn’s company, Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport CC, was being paid R17 million a month by the eThekwini Municipality.

However, the former metro policeman would neither confirm nor deny the figure.

“The amount (from the city) varies and depends on the work produced in that month,” he said.

The Sunday Tribune reported on Sunday that Sithole was investigating the contracts, after disclosures were made in court documents about the couple, who were in the Durban Regional Court last week fighting 118 counts of tax evasion against the company.

Sithole had reportedly asked city treasurer, Krish Kumar, to give a detailed explanation on the contracts.

“I have asked the city treasurer to verify for me whether they are being paid the amount (R17m) and if so, why,” he was quoted as having said.

“I am waiting for him to verify all payments made to them so I can understand which tenders were awarded to them and how they were awarded.”

But Mpisane said he was surprised that the city was investigating his wife’s company, saying Zikhulise, which builds about 200 low-cost municipal houses a month, had helped the city garner a top national housing award.

Earlier this month, the municipality was awarded the Govan Mbeki Human Settlement Award by the Department of Human Settlements for outstanding housing delivery.

Accepting the award, Mayor James Nxumalo had said that it meant that eThekwini was the best municipality in terms of housing and service delivery in the country. “This shows that good things are happening in eThekwini,” he had said.

Said Mpisane: “One is proud that Zikhulise has been part of the team that has made the city achieve the very same award.”

He said he and his wife felt “vindicated” by the award.

Mpisane dismissed claims that the RDP houses built by Zikhulise were substandard, despite two of the houses being demolished two years ago because they were deemed unsafe. City councillors were happy with the company’s work, he said.

“For S’bu Sithole announcing to investigate the very same company that has put the city on the map and also made contributions in making the eThekwini Municipality to receive such an award… I think it better you ask him his motives behind his investigation,” he said.

Mpisane said the “truth will eventually come out”. - Daily News

nondumiso.mbuyazi@inl.co.za