Swellendam Municipal Manager Anneleen Vorster this week rejected claims circulating on social media that she is at the centre of an alleged R40-million tender corruption scheme.
In a statement released by the municipality, it was argued that the recently completed Nexus Forensic Report, an independent investigation, does not implicate her or senior municipal leadership in any wrongdoing.
On Monday, Swellendam Municipality reiterated that the Nexus Forensic Report found no evidence linking the Municipal Manager, the Mayor, the Chief Financial Officer, senior management or any political office-bearers to fraud, tender manipulation or political interference.
“The Nexus report does not implicate the Municipal Manager, Mayor, CFO, senior management or any political office-bearers in fraud, tender manipulation or political interference,” the statement read.
According to the municipality, the report instead identifies irregular conduct by specific individuals and certain external consultants, including possible corruption linked to tender SMT52/22/23.
The municipality also clarified several other tenders referenced in recent allegations. It stated that misconduct in tender SMT01/24/25 was committed by an external party who misrepresented themselves, and that the municipality’s cancellation of the tender was carried out in full compliance with procurement policy.
Tenders SMT19/23/24 and SMT22/23/24 were found to have followed lawful processes, with their re-advertisement based on affordability considerations, ultimately producing a more cost-effective and compliant outcome. Amendments to the contract under tender SMT33/17/18 were also found to comply with Section 116(3) of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
“There is no basis in the forensic findings for calls to suspend the Municipal Manager or to allege large-scale tender fraud,” the statement said.
“The evidence shows a municipality that initiated the investigation, cooperated fully, acted on irregularities and is strengthening internal systems.”
Swellendam Municipality further confirmed that it has begun implementing all the Nexus recommendations. These include referring matters to law enforcement in terms of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), terminating certain consulting relationships and strengthening internal supply chain management controls.
ANC Not Satisfied
Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape released its own statement confirming that its caucus in Swellendam has submitted a formal motion to the Speaker of Council calling for the blacklisting of companies implicated in tender misconduct and for a full investigation into Vorster.
According to the ANC, its Chief Whip Amanda Swart has requested that the motion be debated at the next council meeting. The party further stated that the Democratic Alliance (DA) had previously voted against an earlier council resolution, proposed by the ANC and other parties, calling for an investigation by Advocate Vermaak into whistle-blower allegations.
This inquiry ultimately led to the commissioning of the Nexus forensic report.
The ANC maintains that, in its view, the Nexus report did not specifically investigate the role of the Municipal Manager nor recommend direct sanctions against implicated companies.
For this reason, the party has called on all councillors to support its motion so that, it says, “there is accountability and consequence management for those implicated in the R40 million DA tender scandal.”
Swellendam Municipality has not responded directly to the ANC’s motion, but reiterated that it remains committed to transparency and clean governance and that it would continue cooperating with law enforcement and oversight bodies.
The matter is now expected to be debated at a Special Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 4 December.
