The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is calling for a speedy investigation from the Hawks and the Anti-Crime Unit of the Department of Transport into the recent theft of R5.5 million from the Sedibeng Licensing Department by Kgotso Mkhize, who is the son of the Mayor of Sedibeng, Councillor Lerato Maloka.
This serious incident has raised alarm bells, particularly given the involvement of Executive Mayor Councillor Maloka’s son, who was hired under questionable circumstances.
This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
According to MEC Mamabolo, the money was stolen on 17 December 2024, through fraudulent transactions conducted on the eNatis system. These transactions occurred off-site, not at the Sedibeng licensing centre, and the funds were not deposited into the bank. The fraud involved the misuse of the cashier’s user number and password. The Hawks have since launched an investigation against those involved, including the Mayor’s son.
The MEC also stated that this is not the first instance of money being stolen in this way. R18 million was stolen between 26 November 2021 and December 2024. The cases have been reported to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), and some employees implicated in the theft are currently facing disciplinary hearings, while others are under suspension.
See full reply here.
“The DA has long expressed concerns about the ongoing appointment of employees connected to Council members or nepotism. Our concerns have now been validated, as funds intended for service delivery are being misappropriated by corrupt individuals who are protected due to their close ties to the Mayor. The Mayor herself is under scrutiny, facing numerous allegations of misconduct confirming that Sedibeng is being run to the ground by a cabal of criminals some of whom are connected by familial ties,” says DA Emfuleni North Constituency Head, Kingsol Chabalala MPL.
These officials implicated in theft and fraud have demonstrated their intention to defraud the citizens of Sedibeng and damage this municipality, which is already financially hamstrung. They should consequently face harsh repercussions for their behaviour.
We will follow up with the Hawks and Anti-Crime Unit of the Department of Transport to ascertain the progress of these cases.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would eliminate nepotism and biased hiring practices. This will ensure qualified and ethical individuals dedicated to delivering quality service are hired rather than individuals motivated by greed and self-enrichment.
The DA will continue to pressure COGTA to ensure that all municipalities properly vet every individual appointed to public office. This process should include a declaration of any relationships these individuals may have with others in the system. These practices will promote transparency and accountability within municipal governance, ultimately ensuring that appointments are made based on merit rather than personal connections.