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Today, the DA laid a complaint at the Public Protector South Africa, calling for a full and urgent investigation into serious corruption allegations in the City of Ekurhuleni.

In our submission to Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, we set out allegations that officials within the City of Ekurhuleni may have influenced City Council votes in exchange for directing funding to the political parties of certain councillors. The DA believes there are clear grounds for an investigation within the Public Protector’s jurisdiction, including possible contraventions of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and the Political Party Funding Act.

The complaint further centres on allegations that the City Manager, Mr Kagiso Lerutla, abused his position as Group Chief Financial Officer to direct millions of rands in public funds to ANC-aligned proxy parties as a so-called “protection fee” in exchange for political favours. If proven true, this would represent a deliberate and coordinated looting of public resources at the highest levels of the municipality.

Our complaint seeks answers to critical questions that go to the heart of governance in Ekurhuleni.

• Were public funds diverted for the personal or political benefit of councillors and parties?
• Did the ANC Mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, enable or turn a blind eye to this alleged corruption
• Have other parties, including ActionSA, or their councillors, quietly benefited from this scheme?
• These are questions that demand urgent and transparent investigation.

This is a direct betrayal of the residents of Ekurhuleni. Funds that should have been used to fix potholes, maintain infrastructure, keep the lights on, and deliver basic services have allegedly been diverted to fund backroom political deals. At a time when communities are struggling with failing service delivery, such abuse of public money is indefensible.

The DA maintains that every rand of public money must be spent in the interest of residents, not to sustain corrupt political networks. Ekurhuleni is not for sale, not to corrupt officials, not to the ANC and its proxies, and not to any party willing to trade governance for patronage.

As the DA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, I will not stand by while corruption robs residents of dignity and service delivery. We will continue to fight for accountability, ensure that those implicated are held responsible, and work to restore a government that puts residents first.

Issued by Khathutshelo Rasilingwane MPL - DA Ekurhuleni Mayoral Candidate