The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the Eastern Cape has welcomed a call by the Abantu Integrity Movement (AIM) to the Public Protector to probe fraud allegations against Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Gary van Niekerk.
This after AIM secretary-general Maxhoba Buwa wrote to the Public Protector last week with a request to find Van Niekerk acted in a manner that is in breach of the Code of Conduct for councillors for making "appointments" on behalf of the municipality.
The allegations stem from claims made by the ACDP's Lance Grootboom, who said although Van Niekerk had not been the speaker of the Nelson Mandela Bay council for several months in 2022, he used an official letterhead and signature of the office to appoint Boqwana Burns Attorneys and rack up legal bills to the tune of R551 586.