Five eThekwini Municipality employees have been suspended following their involvement in the alleged misuse of municipal resources.
According to a statement issued by the municipality recently, the employees were caught using municipal equipment to lay asphalt tar at a private residence on Jabu Ndlovu Drive in Verulam, north of Durban.
The suspects allegedly used a municipal truck to transport and lay asphalt tar at the residence. They were spotted and subsequently reported to the City Integrity and Investigations Unit's Forensic Investigating Team on 17 February 2025.
One of the suspects, a supervisory driver, was arrested, while the other four men fled the scene. The supervisory driver appeared at the Verulam Magistrate's Court on 18 February 2025, where he was granted bail.
The remaining four employees who fled the scene have since been suspended.
Head of the City Integrity and Investigations Unit, Jimmy Ngcobo, commended the whistleblower who reported the incident, stressing the importance of standing up against fraud and corruption.
"We will not tolerate this behaviour in the workplace. From the reports received, these employees have been visiting this household frequently to lay asphalt tar," said Ngcobo.
Ngcobo also emphasised the municipality's zero-tolerance stance on fraud, corruption, and violations of human rights.
"Ignoring work principles will destroy the operation of the municipality. Stealing is done deliberately, and they knew what they were doing is against the law. Such employees do not deserve to be working for the municipality," Ngcobo said.
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The incident follows the arrest of six municipal employees in November 2024, who were caught stealing asphalt tar in Inanda, north of Durban.
The employees were caught transporting the asphalt tar without a valid job card to justify its movement. These six employees remain suspended.
Ngcobo warned that employees who disregard workplace rules and policies will face severe consequences.
He also reiterated that managers and supervisors must enforce control systems to combat fraud and corruption effectively.
"Let us work together to protect the image and reputation of the municipality by rooting out fraud and corruption whenever it rears its ugly head," he said.
To report fraud or corruption, please contact the City Integrity and Investigations Unit at 0800 20 20 20 or 031 311 4002, or email: ombuds@durban.gov.za
