The Buffalo City Metro (BCM) has approached its lawyers seeking legal advice after the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) in the province released a public statement claiming that the commission was investigating Mayor Princess Faku on fraud and corruption allegations relating to job opportunities for youth and ex-convicts in Buffalo City.
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) recently released a statement confirming that it was investigating serious allegations of fraud, misrepresentation and corruption involving Faku and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) officials after the commission received written complaints over the failed youth employment project.
The commission was also expected to report the matter to the office of the Public Protector and the police for further investigation.
In September 2023, Faku announced a partnership between BCM and NYDA to create jobs for 100 unemployed youth, aged between 18 and 35, including ex-convicts to safeguard and protect the Metro’s property and infrastructure.
The youth employment project was aimed at creating job opportunities for scores of young people struggling to secure work mainly due to their criminal records.
Each of the Metro’s 50 wards was slated to have two guards, who would receive a monthly stipend of R3,000 after signing a one-year contract with the Metro; however, the project failed allegedly due to lack of finances.
The commission alleged that its investigation revealed that the participants were not ex-offenders as publicly declared, and that no contracts were ever signed between the participants and the Metro as promised.
It further claimed that there were no stipends paid, alleging that the mayor falsely announced that contracts were signed and jobs created, thus misleading the public.
“This conduct represents a gross misuse of public resources, undermining genuine rehabilitation and youth empowerment initiatives,” read the statement.
The Metro hit back, responding to the commission’s allegations on Wednesday, 29 October. BCM spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said the Metro has noted the recent false accusations and allegations made by the ICHR regarding an employment and skills development initiative for 100 young people, including ex-offenders.
“BCM has taken these allegations extremely seriously and has already sought legal advice to address the matter in a transparent and lawful manner. The mayor has reaffirmed her commitment to accountability, clean governance and ethical leadership in all municipal programmes and partnerships,” said Fuzile.
Fuzile said the Metro welcomes any independent and credible investigation that seeks to establish the truth and hold accountable those responsible for any wrongdoing.
He added that the intention of the programme was to empower, rehabilitate and integrate the youth, especially ex-offenders, into the local economy, in line with BCM’s social transformation objectives.
In a media statement released on Wednesday, 29 October, the NYDA confirmed that there were no project funds transferred to Buffalo City Metro as the project has been temporarily stopped due to budgetary constraints experienced in the 2023-24 financial year.
“The NYDA wishes to state categorically that no project funds have been disbursed to Buffalo City Metro. The municipality has not received, managed or utilised any project funds, and the NYDA maintains full financial control and oversight. All allegations suggesting that the municipality ‘took’ or ‘misused’ funds are entirely false, misleading and damaging to both institutions,” said NYDA Communications Manager, Tabudi Madisha.
