BusinessLive reports that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the auditor-general’s (AG’s) office to perform its work in some municipalities as staff members have had to face situations such as a hostage incident and threats from municipal officials.  

A staff member has even been shot at.  These are some of the instances of intimidation AG Kimi Makwetu raised in a letter to parliament’s standing committee on the AG.  In the letter, dated 15 October, Makwetu specifically detailed instances of intimidation at the Emfuleni, Tshwane, Madibeng and Moretele municipalities.  He wrote that he believed the instances of intimidation deserved national attention, even though the AG’s office would still work with the local and provincial governments in question.  "These instances not only pose a threat to the life and limb of innocent professionals employed by the AGSA [auditor-general SA], but also put the broader public interest at risk," Makwetu indicated.  The letter goes on to detail some of the "serious and unacceptable intimidation threats" levelled against officials over the past few weeks.  Nthabiseng Khunou, chair of the portfolio committee, warned last week that anyone found to be obstructing the work of the AG should be criminally charged and face the full might of the law.

• Read this report by Claudi Mailovich in full at BusinessLive

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