On 13 September 2025, the Risk and Internal Audit Unit of O.R. Tambo District Municipality participated in the Municipal Disaster Response Grant (MDRG) bid closing process. The R30 million grant is earmarked for the repair and replacement of infrastructure damaged by recent floods across the district.
What Happened
The R30 million MDRG process, aimed at restoring flood-damaged infrastructure, entered a key phase today as bids officially closed. The municipal audit team was present to monitor the bid process for:
- Signs of fraud or irregularities
- Potential risks and system weaknesses
- Gaps in internal controls
The involvement of auditors at this early stage signals the municipality’s commitment to clean administration and corruption prevention.
Official Response
In a statement, the O.R. Tambo District Municipality stressed the importance of transparency and public trust in disaster response funding.
“This is a critical step in promoting transparency, accountability, and the prevention of fraud and corruption,” the municipality noted.
Officials stated that the audit team’s oversight ensures public resources are protected and used to directly benefit communities affected by flood damage.
Community Impact
With the region still recovering from the recent floods, the R30 million grant represents a lifeline for rebuilding efforts. Transparent handling of these funds is vital to restoring damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and public buildings.
Residents across the O.R. Tambo District are expected to benefit from faster service delivery, but expectations are also high that funds will not be misused, as seen in past disaster relief processes nationally.
This new approach could set a precedent for tighter controls in future emergency funding rounds.
