The CFO was suspended in March 2022 for five charges related to financial misconduct, unlawfulness, and derogatory statements on social media.

Since Dyakala’s suspension, the CFO has allegedly received R 1 614 747,00 for his salary and the municipality has additionally paid a total of R6 479 606,88 in legal fees.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mzi Khumalo, in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

According to MEC Khumalo, the municipality paid Raskgoete Attorneys R 1 046 363.68 and Advocate Zola Majavu R826 490.76. The Raphela Attorneys was paid R2 407 474.07 for disciplinary matters and R574 285.51 for legal opinions. R2 075 562.07 was paid to the Labour Court and only recovered R450 570.24 was from the CFO.

In a statement Kingsol Chabalala MPL – DA Political Head for Emfuleni North said it is worrying that the residents of Emfuleni continue to suffer a lack of service delivery while millions are wasted on an individual sitting at home.

“This is an insult to the people of Emfuleni who endure potholes, sewer leakages, and uncollected refuse daily.”

The DA believes that this case has dragged on for far too long at the expense of tax-paying residents.”

Emfuleni has recently been flagged over officials milking public funds through law firms who represent the municipality on various legal matters.”

Chabalala said the DA demands that MEC Khumalo urgently investigate these exorbitant legal fees to ascertain whether proper processes have been followed.

“MEC Khumalo must initiate measures to curb the waste of funds in Emfuleni and ensure that money is channelled to service delivery.

We will not allow corrupt Emfuleni officials to waste money while the residents are deprived of service delivery.”