UDM victory: Buffalo City exposed over
Statement by Anele Skoti, United Democratic Movement Councillor and Whip in Buffalo City Metropolitan Council
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) welcomes the long-overdue accountability being demanded from BCMM bosses over the shocking mismanagement of public funds in the Mdantsane Swimming Pool project, which we have dubbed the "money pool".
For years, the UDM has been at the forefront of exposing this scandal. Our party has conducted multiple site visits, raised concerns over the wasteful expenditure and consistently pushed for transparency.
The recent grilling of BCMM officials by Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) confirms what we have been saying all along that millions of Rands have been looted while the community remains without a functioning swimming pool.
The forensic report, which BCMM leaders attempted to suppress, reveals shocking details:
• Over R56.9 million spent on the project between 2012 and 2024 with little progress.
• An additional R14.5 million proposed for rehabilitation and completion, bringing the total to over R71 million.
• More than 60 companies, some linked to BCMM officials, received payments.
• R13.7 million paid to 46 service providers who were not involved in the project.
Despite this damning evidence, BCMM leaders, including Mayor Princess Faku, have failed to take responsibility. The decision to withhold the forensic report under the pretext of an ongoing Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) investigation was a blatant attempt to protect those implicated in corruption. The UDM applauds Scopa’s demand that the report be tabled urgently and handed over to both the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit.
The UDM will not rest until those responsible for this financial disaster are held accountable. We demand immediate action against corrupt officials, full disclosure of the forensic report to the public, and an end to the culture of looting that has crippled service delivery in BCMM.
Mdantsane. Buffalo City residents deserve better.
