Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg can reveal that the criminal case we opened against the CEO of the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) and other senior JPC officials has made its way to the Directorate for Public Prosecutions (NPA).
The criminal case was opened based on declaration R23 of 2020 by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which found Ms Botes involved in several violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). Section 173 of the MFMA establishes criminal liability for municipal officials, particularly accounting officers, who engage in financial misconduct.
The City of Johannesburg and its ANC Executive again failed to act against alleged corruption, so the DA did.
In addition, the DA was informed just last night that the board of JPC once again extended the contract of Ms Helen Botes. They have done so despite her contract having expired in September 2024, legal letters from the DA’s legal team, and warnings and concerns raised by councillors.
It seems the Executive Mayor, his executive and ANC cadres on the board of JPC are hellbent on violating the Municipal Structures Act, Section54A that deals with the appointment and acting appointments of Senior Managers.
The DA will be writing to the newly appointed Acting City Manager, the Executive Mayor and the MEC to intervene in this unlawful extension. We will be monitoring all activities in the City that involve the JPC and progress on this case. We were informed that officials were found boasting that “nothing will come of the DA’s case” because they were connected to politicians in National Government, however, the arm of the law is long, and very diligent.