Corruption Crisis Deepen in Johannesburg as DA Calls for Criminal Cases

Key Points

• The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) uncovered collusion between City of Johannesburg officials, politicians, and service providers, sparking concerns about corruption and insecurity in the city’s administration.
• The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for lifestyle audits of CoJ officials and for criminal charges to be filed against those involved in illegal activities.
• The DA has requested investigations from COGTA, National Treasury, and the Auditor General into potential violations of financial laws and regulations.

The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has uncovered collusion between City of Johannesburg (CoJ) supply chain officials, politicians, and service providers, raising serious concerns about corruption, criminal cases, and insecurity accompanied with police murders and state capture scandals in the city’s administration.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for urgent lifestyle audits of all CoJ officials and the prosecution of those implicated in criminal activity.

The DA has urged the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), National Treasury, and the Auditor General to investigate possible violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act and Municipal Systems Act.

The party insists that criminal cases must be opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS) against those found guilty.

The crisis extends beyond financial misconduct. The city has repeatedly lost court cases, resulting in costly punitive orders, while refusing to disclose the financial burden.

Last week, the DA flagged a suspicious R236 million water tanker tender for investigation. Public representatives have also faced obstruction in conducting oversight, with members of the executive blocking access to facilities such as the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

DA Demands Accountability Over Financial Mismanagement

The DA highlighted the city’s unqualified audit outcome for the 2022/23 financial year, a period when the DA-led Multiparty Government was in charge, as a contrast to the current administration’s alleged failures.

The party has vowed to pursue accountability, warning that if authorities fail to act, it will open criminal cases itself.

The DA has also called for greater transparency and accountability in the city’s procurement processes, emphasizing the need to restore public trust. They have urged the SIU to expand its investigation to include other departments suspected of similar corrupt practices.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations have joined the call for action, demanding swift justice and systemic reforms to prevent further looting of public resources. The ongoing crisis has left Johannesburg residents frustrated, with many expressing concerns over deteriorating service delivery and the misuse of taxpayer funds.