VANDERBIJLPARK – The DA has stormed the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), demanding answers over alleged corruption, questionable recruitment practices and poor service delivery.
Led by the party’s mayoral candidate, Kingsol Chabalala, DA members and supporters marched from the licensing department along Frikkie Meyer Boulevard to the municipality’s headquarters on Klasie Havenga Street on October 13.
The masses handed over a memorandum of demand and gave the municipality 30 days to respond.
The party says it wants the municipal bosses to account for alleged irregularities and explain how public funds and employment opportunities are being managed.
At the centre of the storm is a reported R16m fleet tender involving a company identified as belonging to Mpho Malema.
The DA is demanding clarity on how much the municipality paid the company, claiming that documents in its possession reflect figures that differ from the stipulated amount.
“Our memorandum is simple. We are addressing three issues. Tell us how much you paid Malema’s company. The documents we have say a different story from the stipulated figure,” said Chabalala.
The party wants answers about the contract and payments made, placing renewed pressure on the municipality to account for public expenditure.
However, the allegations surrounding the tender have not been independently established, and the municipality’s response on the specific figures remains important.
The DA also warned municipal management that it expected its demands to be addressed within the stipulated timeframe.
“We want service for our people; hence, we are delivering a memorandum for our people,” Chabalala said.
“We are telling the municipal manager that if you are not meeting the deadline, after elections there will be hell to pay,” he added.
The party also raised concerns about alleged nepotism, claiming that friends and relatives of municipal officials and politicians were benefiting from employment opportunities without proper recruitment processes.
Chabalala claimed that approximately 16 000 Emfuleni residents applied for general worker positions, but alleged that no interviews or shortlisting processes were conducted before 388 workers were employed.
He further alleged that additional recruitment was being processed despite positions reportedly not having been advertised.
The DA wants the municipality to explain how the successful candidates were selected and whether the relevant recruitment procedures were followed.
However, ELM Mayor Hassan Mako said the issues raised by the DA were not new, adding that the municipality was already aware of the allegations and that legal processes were underway.
“We live in a democratic country. As and when people deliver a memorandum, we do need to respond to them,” Mako said.
He assured the protesters that the municipality would respond to the grievances outlined in their memorandum.
Mako acknowledged that Emfuleni continued to face service delivery challenges but said the municipality was working to turn the situation around.
“Emfuleni has been faced with many service delivery challenges. You would know that we are trying to turn the tide around,” he said.
On allegations of corruption and maladministration, Mako said the municipality had initiated charges against the alleged perpetrators.
“The matter is still sub judice, and we are waiting for updates from investigating officers. We still expect more to be uncovered in that case,” he said.
The mayor’s comments suggest that at least some of the corruption-related matters are already subject to legal or investigative processes, although the specific proceedings and their status would need to be confirmed.
The demonstration remained peaceful, with the DA insisting that residents deserve transparency, accountability and better services.
Despite the municipality’s challenges, Chabalala said Emfuleni could still be rescued.
“Hope is not lost. The situation can still be salvaged,” he said.
