By Mapaballo Borotho

- A former Emfuleni Local Municipality official has been arrested over an alleged R16 million vehicle fleet tender scandal.
- Police claim only seven of the 18 contracted vehicles were delivered, despite the service provider allegedly having received full payment.
- The investigation is ongoing, with authorities warning that more arrests could follow.
The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) has arrested a 42-year-old former municipal official on charges of fraud and corruption involving approximately R16 million.
The suspect previously worked for the Emfuleni Local Municipality in Gauteng.
The arrest stems from the alleged irregular awarding and implementation of a municipal vehicle fleet tender in which approximately R16 million was paid to a service provider for the delivery of 18 municipal vehicles, including UD trucks and bakkies.
Investigations revealed that only seven of the contracted vehicles were delivered to the municipality, despite full payment allegedly having been made to the service provider.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 20 July 2026.
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says the investigation remains ongoing and that further arrests have not been ruled out.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says Emfuleni has become a “crime scene”.
“One of the worst-run municipalities in the country, which has been, and continues to be, hollowed out by cadres and corruption. Emfuleni is truly the personification of ANC failure,” said DA Emfuleni mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala.
Chabalala added that the arrest should not be the end of the investigation.
“This official did not act alone, and we call for an expanded operation to include both the allegedly EFF-linked service provider and their ANC enablers.”
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