ActionSA confronts Ekurhuleni mayor over unreleased audit reports into R1.8 billion tender

The R1.8 billion chemical toilet tender reports that Chief Auditor Mpho Mafole put together prior to his murder have sparked demands that Ekurhulneni make the documents public.

The Ekurhuleni administration has come under fire from ActionSA for allegedly ignoring council oversight and failing to disclose important forensic reports related to significant city tenders.

The party's Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, is calling on Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza’s administration to explain its ongoing failure to present several forensic reports to council, including a probity audit into the tender done by Mafole in June. ActionSA says the delay to release the report undermines transparency and accountability.

Mafole was found dead in his car on 30 June 2025 after being shot multiple times on the R23 near Kempton Park.

Khumalo said the allegations of irregularities in awarding the R1.8 billion tender are too serious to ignore and must be investigated urgently, given the scale of public funds involved. 

He emphasised that the council has a duty to ensure accountability and must not shy away from its oversight role.

“Should the administration fail to present the report to the council in October, it will strongly suggest a cover-up and further promote maladministration. Mayor Xhakaza’s anti-corruption rhetoric will be (unhelpful) unless followed by decisive action. He must demonstrate genuine commitment to transparency and accountability rather than paying lip service to these principles.”

Khumalo said ActionSA will pursue every legislative avenue available to compel the administration to table the report before the council and ensure accountability is upheld.

“We believe that the fight against corruption requires not only clarity but above all fearless determination. We must ensure that even the slightest suggestion of impropriety is immediately confronted and never delayed,” he added.

ActionSA paid tribute to the late Mafole, saying his tragic death highlights the government’s failure to protect whistleblowers and those who dare to confront corruption.

Khumalo said Mafole’s courage stands as a powerful reminder of the risks faced by those who expose the criminal networks crippling local government.

The party believes that corruption must be treated as public enemy number one.

"This is why our Parliamentary Caucus is working tirelessly to introduce legislative reforms aimed at delivering a decisive blow to this national crisis," Khumalo added.

Responding to ActionSA, Mayor Xhakaza’s acting spokesperson, Ramatolo Tlotleng, said the City of Ekurhuleni follows the Standing Orders By-Law (2023), which sets out the procedures for tabling matters before council.

He noted that only duly elected councillors, council committees, or the Executive, acting through the Speaker and Programming Committee, are authorised to submit or request the tabling of official reports.

Tlotleng emphasised that all political parties must follow established council procedures instead of seeking political advantage through the media, adding that the city remains firmly committed to transparency, accountability, and good governance.

“In line with section 75(1) of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulations, all awarded tender reports and bid information are published on the City’s official website for public scrutiny. This ensures that procurement processes remain transparent and open to oversight by all interested parties.”

Tlotleng added that the mayor reaffirms his commitment to clean governance and ethical leadership, urging all stakeholders to respect the proper channels of accountability within the city’s governance framework.

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za