The Nelson Mandela Bay metro council is set to hear a motion for the immediate suspension of more than 10 officials implicated in streetlight contract fraud. The proposal, submitted by DA councillor Ondela Kepe, follows revelations from Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa about a preliminary Special Investigating Unit report uncovering serious misconduct. It aims to address corruption that has left communities in darkness and heightened crime risks.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, ongoing issues with faulty streetlights have plagued residents for years, leaving neighborhoods vulnerable to crime, especially at night. Women, children, the elderly, and night-shift workers face heightened risks of assault and robbery due to the darkness, which has also encouraged cable theft and vandalism. A motion submitted by Democratic Alliance councillor Ondela Kepe to the metro council seeks to tackle the root causes of this crisis through the precautionary suspension of implicated officials in the Electricity and Energy Directorate. The council is expected to discuss this at its next sitting, following last week's disclosures by Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa. He revealed that a preliminary Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into 2020 streetlight contracts exposed fraud, violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The investigation involves three companies, their directors, and over 10 municipal officials, though names remain undisclosed pending further processes. Kepe's motion highlights the betrayal of public trust, stating: “Residents across Nelson Mandela Bay have, for years, endured broken streetlights... This prolonged failure has increased vulnerability, particularly for women, children, the elderly, and workers... It has exposed communities to higher risks of assault, robbery and other violent crimes.” Addressed to Acting City Manager Lonwabo Ngoqo, the motion demands immediate suspensions, formal disciplinary actions, criminal charges via the South African Police Service and National Prosecuting Authority, and urgent recovery of irregular expenditures. An internal municipal report from 2024 noted R24 million in irregular spending on streetlight repairs, prompted by a criminal case opened by former councillor Tukela Zamani based on whistleblower tips. Hlabisa noted that the SIU found procurement irregular, recommending it be set aside, with referrals for misconduct, prosecutions, and blacklisting of providers. This builds on a 2022 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling in a related case led by former mayor Athol Trollip and city manager Johann Mettler, allowing the metro to reclaim funds lost to fraud. Current efforts also target mismanagement of billions in transport grant funding.
