DA welcomes DSW Councillor arrests - 7 down, 54 to go

18 March 2021

The DA in eThekwini welcomes the arrest of three ANC eThekwini ward councillors in the ongoing DSW corruption saga.

Information reliably provided to the DA indicates that councillors Mthokozisi Nojiyeza, Bhekokwakhe Phewa and Sduduzo Khuzwayo appeared in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court today and were each released on bail of R15 000. They will join Zandile Gumede, Mondli Mthembu, City Manager Sipho Nzuza and the other accused back in court on the 23rd of March.

When Gumede was first arrested, court documents referenced that 61 councillors were allegedly involved in the scheme to defraud DSW. Four more ANC councillors were arrested in December of 2019. One has since passed away. This means 54 unnamed councillors are still untouched.

The ANC has stubbornly refused- both in Council and internally- to investigate the hugely serious claim that over half of its councillors in eThekwini were seemingly breaking the law. Formal requests to the Speaker to initiate an investigation fell on deaf ears, but the Hawks have apparently not given up.

The DA has stood fast in demanding justice, especially given the subsequent collapse of Durban Solid Waste and the impact this has had on service delivery. eThekwini is filthy and the department is completely dysfunctional, with corruption and greed to blame.

Information reliably provided to the DA indicates that more ANC councillors could soon be in handcuffs.

The time for action is now. All of Gumede's allies who filled their pockets at the public's expense must be held to account. If you enter public office to steal from people, you should be lined up, locked up and kept there for a very long time.

Statement issued by Cllr Nicole Graham, DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, 18 March 2021