The DA calls for a broader investigation into the corruption scheme in the Emfuleni Municipality after the arrest of five municipal employees.
They have been taken into custody in connection with allegations of fraud, theft, and tampering with essential infrastructure. Law enforcement agencies must ensure that everyone involved in and benefiting from corruption is investigated, arrested, and brought before the courts to face the full might of the law.
The arrests were conducted by Gauteng’s Political Killings Task Team following Friday’s takedown operation in Vanderbijlpark.
Preliminary investigations have indicated that the suspects invented a ploy in which they imitated authorised officials who could reconnect electricity supplies for municipal clients.
Clients were then allegedly directed to pay fees straight into the suspects’ bank accounts.
The predictability of this is impressive, as I have consistently reported on the corruption taking place within the municipality, which has contributed to its collapse and denied residents the quality services they deserve.
This crime is appalling but absolutely unsurprising, as this was a foreseeable outcome from an ANC-led municipality that is entrenched in corruption. It seems that it is always those whom you most suspect.
As outlined in the DA manifesto, if elected, I will hold municipal employees personally accountable for corruption and mismanagement by enforcing a zero-tolerance approach.
There must be accountability for those who have contributed to the deterioration of Emfuleni Municipality, and residents deserve to see justice served