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The Joburg Crisis Alliance (JCA) is outraged by the Johannesburg City Council's decision to approve the appointment of Lesiba Arnold Malotana as the Head of Public Safety. This decision flies directly in the face of repeated calls by residents and civil society for ethical, competent, and clean government in Johannesburg.

Council Proceeded Despite Known Integrity Risks

Most disturbing is that Council acted with its eyes wide open. Information before Council reportedly identified Malotana as a high-risk candidate, while serious matters concerning him remain unresolved. Instead of exercising caution, Council proceeded with the appointment subject to so-called "enhanced conditions".

The concerns surrounding Malotana are substantial. He was previously removed from his position as Gauteng Health HOD following a high-profile precautionary suspension by the provincial government. This action took place amidst ongoing Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probes into severe financial irregularities within that department. Specifically, these investigations involve systemic procurement fraud linked to the multi-billion-rand Tembisa Hospital graft scandal, alongside findings from a failed lifestyle audit that flagged him as a high-risk official. A complaint has also been lodged with the Public Protector, and the broader SIU investigations into these matters remain outstanding. 

The JCA fully recognises the presumption of innocence. This is not about declaring Malotana guilty of a crime, as formal legal and disciplinary processes must run their course. It is about whether Council exercised responsible judgement in appointing someone facing unresolved integrity questions of this magnitude to one of the City's most powerful positions.

The answer is clearly no.

A Critical Role Requiring Unquestionable Public Trust Public

Safety oversees critical functions, including the JMPD, Emergency Management Services, traffic enforcement, and municipal law enforcement. The person leading this department must command unquestionable public confidence. The JCA has consistently argued that Johannesburg's governance crisis is fundamentally a crisis of leadership, accountability, and appointments. We have called for municipal entity boards and senior positions to be filled on the basis of integrity, competence, and merit, and have repeatedly warned against appointments that lower the ethical standards expected of public office. This appointment demonstrates precisely why those warnings matter. 

It is particularly troubling that a motion calling for the appointment to be deferred until the SIU investigation was completed was defeated. Council had an obvious and responsible option available to it: wait for the investigations to be concluded. It chose not to do so.

Demands for Immediate Action

The JCA therefore calls for the following:
• Immediate Rescission: We demand the immediate rescission of Malotana's appointment.

• Urgent Legal Review: We call on political parties, civil society organisations, and other interested parties to urgently examine the legality and rationality of the Council decision and institute legal proceedings to have the appointment reviewed and set aside.

• Full Public Disclosure: The City must disclose the full report, risk assessment, and legal advice placed before Council, explaining exactly why a candidate explicitly flagged as high-risk was considered suitable for senior appointment. 

Issued by the Joburg Crisis Alliance