The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane notes with deep concern the report published by Sunday World on 9 November 2025, alleging that Eskom may have misled the City regarding the professional standing of former Eskom official Chris Baloye, who has recently been appointed to a sensitive forensic role within the City’s administration.
The seriousness of these allegations cannot be overstated. The article suggests that Eskom may have previously investigated Baloye in relation to serious matters yet allegedly denied the existence of such an investigation when the City of Tshwane enquired prior to his appointment.
These developments are particularly troubling given the DA’s long-standing concerns regarding:
• The quality and credibility of forensic investigations within the City, and
• MPAC’s ongoing difficulties in effectively processing and resolving Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful (UIFW) expenditure matters.
This situation risks eroding public trust in the City’s financial oversight systems at a time when transparent governance is urgently required.
In the interest of transparency and accountability, the DA will be:
The DA will formally write to the City Manager to:
• Confirm whether the Administration is currently addressing the matter, and
• Obtain clarity on what corrective or precautionary measures have been implemented to date.
It is essential that the City Manager demonstrates that appropriate steps are being taken to protect the integrity of the City’s forensic processes.
The DA will request that MPAC initiates an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this appointment, including:
• The verification process followed prior to the appointment,
• The accuracy of information provided to the City by external institutions,
• Any risks posed to ongoing forensic investigations within the municipality.
To this end, we will write to the Chairperson of MPAC, proposing that the Committee place this matter on its agenda as a priority item.
We will continue to advocate for a forensic and financial oversight environment in the City of Tshwane that the public can trust.