[LISTEN] Dagada: Mashaba is a dictator
Former Johannesburg MMC of finance, Rabelani Dagada, believes he was axed because mayor Herman Mashaba "does not like anyone who differs from him".
Dagada has labelled the allegations of fraud by the City of Johannesburg as untrue and "very ridiculous".
Dagada denies claims of maladministration against him and blames Mashaba for his axing.
A forensic probe was launched around last year June after the allegations of fraud appeared in the media. Dagada says this was the start of a campaign to remove him from office.
"This is a smear campaign because since last year June the mayor had wanted to remove me for the mayor committee. At this time around he comes with these allegations which has not been tested.
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"He is a dictator, he doesn't want anyone to differ with him. In that mayoral committee I was the only person that could say no to him."
Dagada was axed following a forensic investigation which Mashaba says found prima facie evidence that he had been involved in price fixing with a service provider.
He also allegedly unduly influenced city officials to authorise fraudulent procurement deals.
Dagada insists the probe is incomplete and without merit.
"I was given a draft report. It doesn't even contain that I put pressure to some people to give away tenders. It doesn't say this. It's incomplete. There has been a lot of mud being thrown on my side so that I can be removed from the mayoral committee."