– Maruleng was alerted to the alleged R1 million fraud in January 2025.
– Municipality must explain why no action appears to have been taken.
– Hawks arrests now raise questions about the status of accused municipal employees.
The DA calls on the ANC-run Maruleng Local Municipality to explain how an alleged fraud and money-laundering scheme involving more than R1 million went undetected, what action, if any, it has taken since becoming aware of the matter as far back as January 2025, and the current status of the municipal employees accused in the matter.
The municipality cannot simply hide behind a press statement saying that it will now cooperate with the authorities and that the accused employees are “presumed innocent until proven guilty”.
That principle applies to the criminal case. It does not prevent the municipality from protecting public money, its systems and its records, or from taking appropriate action against its employees, even if only precautionary in nature. It also does not shield the municipality itself from accountability.
The allegations concern members of the public who were seeking to have building plans processed and were allegedly directed by the accused employees, working with others, to make payments that should have gone to the municipality.
The municipality was first alerted to the matter in January 2025 when a ratepayer approached it, but it would appear that no action was taken at the time.
It took the ratepayer laying a criminal complaint, an investigation by the Hawks, and the arrest and charging of municipal employees to elicit any response or action from the ANC-led municipality.
The municipality must explain what controls failed, why the alleged conduct was not detected sooner despite the financial controls and the use of external financial consultants, and when it became aware of the matter and why no action was taken at that time.
It must also state whether the accused employees are still at work, whether they still have access to municipal systems, and whether any suspension or disciplinary process has been started.
If no action has been taken, residents deserve to know why.
Corruption and weak financial controls cost communities services, investment and jobs.
The people of Maruleng deserve answers. The DA will continue to follow the case and demand accountability.