By Bua Sedibeng News Staff Reporter
The troubled Emfuleni Local Municipality has formally appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into its affairs, citing mounting allegations of maladministration and corruption.
Mayor Sipho Radebe confirmed in a letter dated 1 November 2025 that the municipality faces “significant resource constraints” in addressing systemic misconduct and requires the SIU’s forensic expertise to restore institutional credibility. The letter was copied to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and Gauteng CoGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
The mayor’s appeal follows complaints from the Roshnee community in Vereeniging, where residents reported unlawful electricity disconnections, inaccurate billing, and alleged bribery involving municipal officials. Additional concerns raised include poor revenue collection, waste management failures, neglected cemetery maintenance, and irregularities in supply chain management.
Radebe assured residents that the municipality has already initiated internal forensic investigations and will engage directly with community leadership to ensure transparency. “We are determined to confront maladministration and corruption decisively,” he wrote, adding that SIU involvement is indispensable to achieving a credible and conclusive investigation.
The municipality has also requested access to findings from a 2022 forensic investigation conducted by the George Fivaz Security Company, which could provide immediate insights while awaiting a formal SIU proclamation.
Emfuleni has long been plagued by governance failures, collapsing infrastructure, and financial mismanagement. Calls for national intervention have intensified as residents continue to endure unreliable electricity supply, deteriorating basic services, and eroding public trust in the local authority.
If approved, the SIU probe could mark a turning point for Emfuleni, offering residents renewed hope for accountability and improved service delivery. The community now awaits President Ramaphosa’s response to the mayor’s urgent appeal.
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