Focusing on civic accountability, investigation of the tendering process, and advocating for transparency is the civil group Azania Youth in Action.

The organisation founder, Linda Vilakazi, addressed the media recently, “as the last resort”, claiming the municipality was a “crime scene”, referring to alleged corruption, nepotism, and tender favouritism, among other claims.

“I am risking my life for coming forward, and exposing the rot in the City, and as we speak my life is in danger,” Vilakazi said. He stated that the organisation met with City officials and management several times to address the matter.

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“When we realised that the meetings were not providing solutions to stop plundering of taxpayers’ money, we wrote a letter to the City Integrity and Investigations Unit to investigate the officials, the new procurement system, as well as implicated private companies,” said Vilakazi.

The letter, seen by Berea Mail, is dated April 14, 2026, and addressed to the director of eThekwini’s City Integrity and Investigations Unit (CIIU). The unit confirmed receipt and promised to attend to the matter.
Vilakazi asserts that there are four companies (names provided) involved in collusion with the City officials, and he said they are awarded multiple tenders under dodgy circumstances. He said these companies have drained the City of about R3b rand.

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Upon “non-action and delaying tactics” by the CIIU, Azania Youth in Action opened a criminal case at Durban Central SAPS, against the CIIU (case number provided). The SAPS confirmed that a case has been opened against the City.

eThekwini Municipality’s communication director, Mandla Nsele, responded, “Upon receiving a complaint from the civil society group, eThekwini Municipality’s City Integrity and Investigations Directorate requested additional information from the complainant after the matter was brought to its attention. However, the information was not provided.

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“The complainant subsequently elected to report the matter to the South African Police Service. The City is therefore unable to comment further on the matter.”

Vilakazi also called for the suspension of the new tender system, which he believes is designed to favour specific companies. Additionally, “all Supply Chain Management officials must go through a lifestyle audit”.

The organisation vowed that it would approach the High Court if the City failed to act.

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