A R16 million fleet procurement scandal in the Emfuleni Local Municipality has sparked a political clash between ActionSA and Gauteng’s COGTA, with accusations of a cover-up and growing calls for accountability.
As previously reported by The Star, the controversy centres on a fleet procurement deal in which the Emfuleni Local Municipality allegedly spent over R16 million on trucks, graders and bakkies that were never delivered or quickly became unserviceable.
Investigations suggest that while payments were processed through an approved National Treasury contract, several vehicles including trucks and bakkies never reached the municipality, with at least one reportedly unaccounted for.
Further scrutiny has revealed alarming irregularities in the procurement process, including invoices signed off as proof of delivery despite missing vehicles, duplicate engine numbers, and assets registered to third parties instead of the municipality. Some of the equipment that was delivered, such as graders, reportedly failed soon after use.
ActionSA Gauteng caucus leader Funzi Ngobeni has come out strongly against what he describes as a failure of oversight, accusing Gauteng MEC of Cooperative Governance Jacob Mamabolo of deflecting instead of acting.
“At no point does the MEC answer the most basic and necessary question: Has a criminal case been opened in relation to the missing R16 million, yes or no?” Ngobeni said.
He argued that the matter goes beyond internal administrative processes, warning that delays in opening a criminal case could compromise evidence and allow those implicated to evade accountability.
“When public funds are paid for goods that were not delivered… This is not an internal administrative matter. It raises serious concerns of financial misconduct and potential criminality,” he said.
Ngobeni further rejected Mamabolo's stance that the provincial government cannot interfere in municipal affairs, citing legal provisions that empower intervention in cases of suspected fraud and maladministration.
“The failure to utilise these powers… is not compliance with the law, it is an abdication of oversight responsibility,” he added.
Mamabolo's office has dismissed the allegations as misleading and politically driven, maintaining that proper governance processes must be respected.
Spokesperson Theo Nkonki said the claims reflect “a gross misunderstanding of government processes” and warned against undermining lawful procedures.
“The provincial government cannot and will not bully or unlawfully interfere in municipal processes,” Nkonki said.
He confirmed that the matter had been referred to the municipality, which has initiated an internal investigation.
“COGTA cannot pre-empt or second-guess such processes without undermining due process,” he said.
However, Ngobeni has maintained his stance, accusing the municipality of hiding behind internal processes after submitting what he described as a “copy-and-paste” response to legislative questions.
“The matter is still under the Council’s internal process, and an official update will only be provided once that process is concluded,” the municipality stated in its response a reply Ngobeni said demonstrates a lack of accountability.
The party insists that the failure to act decisively risks deepening the crisis in Emfuleni, a municipality already plagued by governance and service delivery challenges.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za