Nearly two years after the disappearance of a R465 000 mayoral chain from the Sedibeng District Municipality, key questions about its ownership, loss, and recovery remain unanswered.

Despite formal inquiries and political pressure, neither Sedibeng District Municipality nor the Emfuleni Local Municipality has provided clarity, and the chain itself is still missing.

What first appeared to be a simple case of theft has since become a bizarre story of what appears to be municipal mismanagement, blurred lines of responsibility, and official silence.

A golden symbol vanishes

The gold mayoral chain — a ceremonial symbol of office — was last seen on June 23, 2023, following Sedibeng’s State of the District Address (SODA). According to a February 2024 press statement by DA Emfuleni North Constituency Head, Kingsol Chabalala MPL, a criminal case of theft was only opened on November 12, 2023, prompting concerns about the delayed response.

The DA questioned why the chain’s disappearance was not immediately reported to police, raising suspicions of negligence or possible cover-up. They also noted that Mayor Lerato Maloka had previously been linked to another incident involving sabotage of her municipal vehicle.

The twist: The chain belongs to Emfuleni

In March 2025, Sedibeng councillor Lynda Parsonson revealed a startling twist: the missing chain may never have belonged to Sedibeng at all. According to her, a former Sedibeng mayor — Simon Mofokeng — allegedly swapped Sedibeng’s original chain for Emfuleni’s during his time in office.

“After official engagements, it was generally handed over to security officials to be secured in the municipal safe,” Parsonson wrote. “However, after one event, the mayor decided to retain the chain and instead lock it in a cupboard in her office. The chain has not been seen since.”

Even more striking, Parsonson stated that councillors were not informed of the disappearance until much later and that council is still waiting for a police report.

Municipal silence

To verify this complex situation, Vaalweekblad sent formal queries to Sedibeng communications coordinator Reggie Moiloa and spokesperson for the Emfuleni Local Municipality Makhosonke Sangweni on March 25, requesting responses to 12 specific questions regarding:

• The chain’s ownership,
• Whether the asset exchange was documented or authorised,
• The timing and nature of the theft report,
• Cooperation with police,
• Insurance claims, and
• Possible consequences for the municipality.

Initially, neither municipality responded. However, in a brief reply to a follow-up enquiry, Sangweni stated: “The matter belongs to Sedibeng District Municipality and all we know is that the matter is before courts and shall await for the final outcome.”

No further details were provided, and Sedibeng has remained silent. This limited response comes despite The Citizen reporting in February 2024 that the chain belonged to Emfuleni — and despite ongoing public calls for accountability.

No resolution, no accountability

To date, no arrests have been made, no official explanation has been provided for the delayed theft report, and neither municipality has confirmed responsibility or insurance coverage.

What should have been a straightforward investigation has devolved into a bureaucratic mystery. The public, meanwhile, is left in the dark about how a R465,000 asset could vanish — apparently without consequence.

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