KwaDukuza Municipality hits back at ANC Youth League's explosive claims of corruption and nepotism

Tensions are mounting in KwaDukuza Municipality after the ANC Youth League in the General Gizenga Mpanza Region accused the local municipality of corruption, nepotism and mismanagement, claims the municipality has firmly rejected as “unfounded” and “intimidatory”.

In a scathing statement issued late last month, the ANCYL stated it was “appalled, though not surprised” by what it described as ongoing “unethical, corrupt and unjust employment practices” within the municipality.

The League alleged that local youth were being excluded from job opportunities while friends and relatives of senior officials were placed in key positions without proper recruitment processes.

“For far too long, the municipality has hired individuals from outside the town, while qualified local youth remain unemployed and excluded,” the statement read.

“Posts are not advertised, interviews are skipped, and individuals are placed through personal connections, often family and friends of those in management.”

The Youth League further alleged the existence of ghost employees, irregular payments to temporary workers, and misuse of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), claiming that individuals close to municipal management had benefited repeatedly from the programme at the expense of deserving local youth.

In one specific case, the ANCYL said a person in the Corporate Governance Business Unit had been on the municipal payroll “for more than five years without reporting for duty.”

Another employee in the Project Management Unit (PMU), it said, continued receiving payment “after the original employee had returned to work.”

The League also accused the municipality of “stalling” key service delivery projects, creating unnecessary management positions outside the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) department-approved organogram, and “deliberately delaying” the sale of land for a mosque in Ballito, an act it described as “a violation of religious freedom.”

In response, KwaDukuza Municipality released a detailed statement refuting each of the nine allegations raised by the ANCYL.

The municipality said it “has a clear recruitment policy encapsulated in its Human Resources Policy Manual,” and that organised labour participates in every hiring process.

It added that the only instances when positions are filled without advertisement are for temporary appointments.

On the alleged “ghost employee,” the municipality said the person identified “is known to the municipality and was recruited through proper processes.” It challenged the Youth League to provide evidence to substantiate its claims.

Responding to the PMU payment allegation, the municipality confirmed that an employee had been temporarily appointed while another was on maternity leave, but said this was done in line with HR policy. “The post remains vacant pending the outcome of a grievance process,” it stated.

The municipality also dismissed as false claims that an EPWP worker had been promoted to a personal assistant position. “There is no way that an employee can be appointed on the EPWP programme and be paid on a Task Grade 8,” it said, adding that the burden of proof lies with the accuser.

Regarding the misuse of fleet vehicles and funds for security for senior management, the municipality said the matter had been tabled in an in-committee council meeting on 30 October and would be dealt with through council processes.

On the organogram dispute, KwaDukuza maintained that Cogta's role was advisory, not supervisory.

“It cannot be Cogta who approves the organogram,” the municipality said.

“The municipal council has the right to accept or reject comments from Cogta.” It added that only posts appearing in the 2017 organogram which are still in effect, were being filled.

Addressing the mosque site issue, the municipality said a new process had been initiated earlier this year, following legal and procedural guidance from National Treasury and Cogta. It added that the Council had already approved another Muslim prayer facility in Ballito in May 2024, proving its “commitment to religious inclusivity.”

KwaDukuza officials said the ANCYL’s statement “assumes that these accusations are the only truth and there is no possibility they can be proven otherwise,” describing it as an attempt “to intimidate the municipality and/or its officials so that the voice of the municipality cannot be heard.”

The municipality urged responsible public discourse, warning that unverified claims “can polarise the community and the employees of the municipality.”

It said all employees are appointed on merit, with qualifications vetted before appointment, and invited anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to submit it to the municipal manager.

The Youth League, meanwhile, has called for investigations by the Hawks, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and Cogta.

THE MERCURY