ANA reports that the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) on Wednesday admitted that the workers' coffers had been plundered almost R88 million in just three years, but dismissed reports that it only had less than R1,000 in the bank currently.  

Reports emerged this week that a damning forensic investigation revealed that millions of rands put aside to keep food on the tables of Samwu's striking members were redirected to cover some of the union's operational costs and to buy T-shirts.  The forensic investigation into five allegations of misappropriation and irregularities of the union's finances was conducted by accounting firm Ernst & Young in 2016, but was kept under lock and key until recently.  In a statement from its secretariat, Samwu said:  "The auditors have found evidence of irregularities and fraudulent activities that have contributed to the drastic decline in the union's bank balances.”  Samwu laid the blame squarely at the feet of its former president, Pule Molalenyane, whom it accused of concealing crucial information about the union's operations from its officials.  "Ernst & Young completed the audit and presented the audit report to the union's former president, Pule Molalenyane.  This report, however, was never presented to any of the union’s structures," the union said.

• Read the full original of Siphelele Dludla’s report in the above regard at Independent News

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