Two members of the Emalahleni Local Municipality’s Mayoral Committee have been arrested and are set to appear in court on Thursday, 17 April 2025, after being implicated in a corruption case involving a lease agreement.
The arrest took place at the Witbank Dam, where the suspects, aged 54 and 55, were allegedly caught accepting a bribe.
The Bribe and the Sting Operation
According to the South African Police Service, the arrests were made by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation unit from Middelburg.
The councillors were allegedly caught red-handed accepting R20,000 in cash, which is part of a larger sum of R500,000 that they were demanding in exchange for approving an extension to a municipal lease.
This particular payment of R20,000, made on Wednesday, 16 April 2025, followed a prior payment of R40,000 made back in February.
Investigators claim that the councillors were working together to collect the full bribe amount.
Recovery of Bribe and Luxury Assets Seized
During the operation, authorities were able to recover the R20,000 that had been exchanged earlier in the day.
Additionally, the Hawks seized two luxury vehicles that were allegedly used by the suspects during the commission of the crime.
The ongoing investigation will likely reveal more details about how the bribery was orchestrated.
Hawks’ Major General Warns Public Officials Against Corruption
Major General Nico Gerber, the Provincial Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, praised the arrests and issued a stern warning to public officials.
He made it clear that no one, regardless of their position, would be allowed to enrich themselves at the community’s expense.
“We will at no stage allow people, regardless of their positions, to enrich themselves at the expense of the community,” Gerber said.
“Honest businesspeople are forced to pay bribes to contribute to job creation and employment. This should send a stern warning to officials.”
Public Response and Consequences for Corruption
The arrests serve as a reminder of the importance of holding public officials accountable.
As investigations continue, the public is left wondering what consequences should be in store for officials found guilty of demanding bribes.