The DA in Gauteng has called for a speedy investigation from the Hawks and the AntiCrime Unit of the Department of Transport into the recent theft of R5.5m from the Sedibeng Licensing Department by Kgotso Mkhize, who is the son of the Mayor of Sedibeng, Lerato Maloka.
This serious incident has raised alarm bells, particularly given the involvement of Maloka’s son, who was hired under questionable circumstances.
This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, in a written reply to the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
According to Mamabolo, the money was stolen on December 17, 2024, through fraudulent transactions conducted on the eNatis system.
These transactions occurred off-site, not at the Sedibeng licensing centre, and the funds were not deposited into the bank. The fraud involved the misuse of the cashier’s user number and password.
The MEC also stated that this is not the first instance of money being stolen in this manner.
Between November 26, 2021, and December 2024 R18m was stolen.
The cases have been reported to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), and some employees implicated in the theft are currently facing disciplinary hearings, while others are under suspension.
“The DA has long expressed concerns about the ongoing appointment of employees connected to Council members or nepotism.
Our concerns have now been validated, as funds intended for service delivery are being misappropriated by corrupt individuals who are protected due to their close ties to the mayor. The mayor herself is under scrutiny, facing numerous allegations of misconduct confirming
that Sedibeng is being run to the ground by a cabal of criminals, some of whom are connected by familial ties,” said DA Emfuleni North
Constituency Head, Kingsol Chabalala MPL.
According to Chabalala, these officials implicated in theft and fraud have demonstrated their intention to defraud the citizens of Sedibeng and damage this municipality, which is already financially constrained.
“They should consequently face harsh repercussions for their behaviour,” Chabalala said.
According to Chabalala the DA will follow up with the Hawks and Anti-Crime Unit of the Department of Transport to ascertain the progress of these cases.
The DA said it will continue to pressure CoGTA to ensure that all municipalities properly vet every individual appointed to public office.
“This process should include a declaration of any relationships these individuals may have with others in the system. These practices will promote transparency and accountability within municipal governance, ultimately ensuring that appointments are made based on merit rather than personal connections,” Chabalala concluded.
Vaalweekblad has approached Saviour Kgaswane, Sedibeng District Municipality’s Acting Head for Communications and Stakeholder
Relations for comment.
Although we have contacted him on WhatsApp and email, we are still waiting on a formal response by the municipality.