The DA has long been calling for the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) to hand over records with details of the 65 learners who received bursaries over the last three financial years.

In April, the DA said it had uncovered deeply troubling information that Emfuleni’s mayoral bursaries are being awarded through favouritism and political patronage.

“Instead of helping disadvantaged young people who desperately need financial support, these bursaries are allegedly going to associates, comrades, and family members of local officials and politicians,” the DA said.

In their response, the ELM declined to provide a list of recipients to clarify if any of the beneficiaries are related to officials or politicians in Emfuleni. The municipality further confirmed that it does not require applicants to disclose such relationships, and therefore cannot confirm or deny whether any beneficiaries are connected to municipal employees or councillors.

The DA’s ELM mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala says he has since submitted a formal PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information) application requesting the records.

“I also inquired whether any of the 65 learners are related to municipal officials or councillors and, if this is the case, requested that the names and nature of these relationships be disclosed. However, I have been met with resounding silence.”

Chabalala says he lodged an internal appeal based on the Information Officer’s failure to respond to his PAIA request within the prescribed 30-day period.

“This non-responsiveness by a state institution is unacceptable and demonstrates a complete lack of regard for accountability. It violates the public’s right to request information held by the state. If there is nothing to conceal, the municipality must release the records without further delay and stop hiding behind feeble excuses.”