VEREENIGING. – The missing Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) Mayoral chain is valued at R 450 000. Saviour Kgaswane from the office of the SDM Executive Mayor, Lerato Maloka, stated that the chain was stolen from the SDM Executive Mayor’s office and that it was last seen in 2023, during the State of the District Address (SODA).

Last month, Sedibeng Ster published a story about the missing chain, but there was no official reply from the SDM. Consequently, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demanded that the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mzi Khumalo, launch an urgent investigation into the missing mayoral chain.

According to an affidavit seen by the party, the chain, valued at R 465 000, mysteriously disappeared after the State of the SODA on June 23, 2023. However, a case of theft was not opened until November 12, 2023.
Kingsol Chabalala, Emfuleni North Constituency Head for the DA, expressed concern over the delay in reporting the matter to the police, given the seriousness of the situation.

He also raised questions about the Sedibeng Council’s ability to safeguard its assets. The DA insists that MEC Khumalo conduct a thorough investigation into both cases and ensure that those involved in criminal or negligent behaviour are held accountable.

A case has been opened at the Vereeniging Police Station.