Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has placed Community Development MMC Kabelo Gwamanda on special leave, effective immediately, and has relieved him from all executive duties.

This after Gwamanda was arrested last week, in connection with a funeral policy scam that he allegedly ran in Soweto more than a decade ago, in which he supposedly scammed unsuspecting Soweto residents in a scheme in which they made monthly payments for funeral insurance.

Morero, who met with Gwamanda on Tuesday morning said the severity of his allegations demanded a proactive response to protect the integrity of the Mayor’s Office.

He said Gwamanda’s special leave was in line with the City's commitment to “integrity, good governance, and accountability”.

Morero said he will appoint an acting Community Development MMC to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

“The residents of Johannesburg are hereby informed that the allegations will be referred to the Speaker of Council, who will handle the matter according to the legislated processes and rules of the council,” he added.

Gwamanda said on the X platform that he will be taking leave to focus on resolving personal legal matters.

"I am committed to addressing these matters swiftly and responsibly, and I remain grateful for the support and understanding of my colleagues, partners, and the broader community. Thank you for your patience and continued support," he stated.