ActionSA asks SAPS to investigate alleged R2 million bribe for Tshwane mayor vote

16 March 2023

ActionSA, a party committed to the rule of law, is resolute in its belief that it will not allow the will of the people to be unlawfully circumvented by corrupt elements in the City of Tshwane. This comes after one of our councillors was offered a bribe of roughly R2 million to vote with the ANC-led opposition parties for Dr Murunwa Makwarela to become the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane.

This morning, alongside ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont and National Spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni, I laid criminal charges against two individuals sent by the Defence of People (DoP) political party who attempted to bribe our councillor to vote for the ANC-led opposition.

The Prevention & Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004 stipulates that “any person who, directly or indirectly, gives or agrees or offers to give any gratification to a member of the legislative authority, whether for the benefit of that member or for the benefit of another, is guilty of the offence of corrupt activities relating to members of the legislative authority.”

We allege that ahead of the vote for the new City of Tshwane Executive Mayor in February hat our councillor was approached to vote in favour of the ANC-aligned candidate and that he would be rewarded with money equivalent to his annual salary until 2026, which equates to roughly R2 million.

Given that it has emerged that Dr Makwarela appears to have falsified documents in order to unlawfully remain in office, we are not surprised that inducements are alleged to have been offered in order to install him as Executive Mayor in the first place. As such the South African Police Service (SAPS) must investigate this matter fully and mete out justice in an effort to restore confidence, law and order in the running of South Africa’s capital.

ActionSA strongly condemns any attempts to offer illegal inducements to circumvent the democratic work of council after Tshwane’s residents gave the multi-party government a majority in the city.

We remain committed to the rule of law and will not allow ANC-aligned political parties to usurp democracy to gain access to lucrative tenders in the City of Tshwane.

Issued by Funzi Ngobeni, Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, ActionSA, 16 March 2023