Widespread public outcry recently surfaced regarding the City of eThekwini Municipality’s non-action on claims of bribery plaguing the recruitment processes at Durban Metro Police Service.
According to the claims, bribes totalling R20m were deposited to certain Durban Metro officials.
KZN ActionSA Provincial representative Zwakele Mncwango took the matter to the municipality leadership, seeking answers on lack of action, after an investigation report was released.
DA eThekwini mayoral candidate Haniff Hoosen, together with councillors and supporters, picketed outside Durban City Hall, where a press briefing was held over the reported R20m job-selling scandal. The party demanded the release of the forensic report and immediate action against those implicated.
eThekwini Municipality affirmed that it was acting decisively on allegations of irregular appointments.
The City Manager of eThekwini Municipality, Musa Mbhele, confirmed the existence of two reports compiled by the City’s Integrity and Investigations Directorate, which investigated allegations of irregularities in the recruitment of Metro Police officers.
“The Nexus Report, concluded in 2020, investigated two recruitment intakes conducted in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years. The report flagged the appointment of four officers as having been made irregularly. Following legal processes pursued by the City, the matter was resolved, and the officers’ appointments were upheld.”
Furthermore, “The second report, the Isiqu Report, investigated allegations of irregularities in the recruitment of officers during the 2023/24 financial year. The report recommended disciplinary steps against four officials: an Authorised Officer, two Human Capital officials and a Business Support employee.
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“The report further reveals that R420 000 allegedly exchanged hands, with members of the public said to have been scammed by one of the suspended employees after being promised jobs that did not materialise,” the City revealed.
The City Manager assured residents of the City’s commitment to transparency and good governance in how it conducts its recruitment processes. “If something looks like fraud and smells like fraud, we activate all law enforcement agencies to deal with it,” said Mbhele.
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The Metro Police Commissioner Sbonelo Mchunu cited numerous cases in which the public had paid bribes to scammers promising them employment that did not exist.
According to the eThekwini Municipality, a criminal case has since been opened with the SAPS (CAS 521/1/2026).
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