The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes reports of the arrest of ANC Councillor Tobius Malope, who was recently elected to the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality Council. He was arrested on allegations of extortion of a contractor in a construction project.
The extortion allegations against him are grave, and we expect that he will be suspended immediately. Unfortunately, such allegations are not new for ANC councillors in Limpopo, a province that has long struggled to attract investment and create job opportunities due to rampant corruption.
Local ANC Councillors, like Malope, hailed by the ANC as being “among the best to represent the best”, have usually shown more interest in personal enrichment than in addressing the needs of struggling residents. Elias Motsoaledi Municipality has faced persistent service delivery issues, with many communities lacking access to water and job opportunities.
The DA continues to fight against construction mafias and corruption at both national and local levels. We urge the public to report any instances of extortion or intimidation to the police without delay.
As we approach the 2026 local government elections, the DA is confident that the residents of Elias Motsoaledi will reject the ANC, just as South Africans did in the recent national elections.