By Sihle Mavuso
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has pounced on the corruption-tainted eThekwini municipality to investigate a range of alleged corruption matters that has been reported about the entity.
In its first step, the committee chaired by MP Songoze Zibi from Rise Mzansi has directed eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba to provide its with a range of reports on matters that has been brought to its attention for further probing.
The move by SCOPA comes as calls are intensifying for the Madlanga Commission to zoom into eThekwini and probe entities like Durban Transport, the Durban Metro Police and the Water department.
In the letter by Zibi dated 13 May 2026, Xaba has to provide the information by Monday next week.
Among the matters the committee wants its reports on is the Namibia 8 Housing Project in the notorious township of Inanda in the north of Durban. The project has been stalled since 2019 despite that it has been alleged that the contractor was fully paid.
“A detailed update around the Namibia 8 Housing Project on what transpired and the
consequence management, a detailed report on the sanitation project which dates back as far as 2019, focusing on: the bidding process and service providers awarded the contract, the current status of the sanitation project and the anticipated date for its completion; Reasons for the delay in concluding the project.” reads the letter.
“Reasons why certain service providers have not yet been paid despite the Council resolution; Steps being taken by the Municipality to resolve all outstanding disputes and payment-related matters, timelines indicating when all matters relating to the project will be finalised and concluded; and a detailed breakdown of the total cost of the project,” the committee said.
Moreover, the committee wants documents that would shed light on how the wife (name unknown) of Dr Sandile Mnguni, the chief financial officer (CFO) of eThekwini was hired by the municipality and rose through the ranks.
That comes after a whistleblower said that Mnguni allegedly abused his powers to help her wife notch position and meticulously rise through the ranks.
“A detailed report on the employment of the CFO’s wife, posts she has occupied,
committees she serves in or has served, members of the appointment panel that
approved her appointment at the municipality,” the committee requested.
The committee also wants to know how the council handled the sexual abuse allegations against the controversial city manager, Musa Mbhele. Mbhele was accused of sexually harassing Kim Makhathini, the executive director (deputy city manager) for human resources and the council which is dominated by the ANC was accused of mishandling the matter.
“A detailed report on the sexual allegations against the City Manager by the Deputy
City Manager, in particular: How were the allegations handled; Which law firm was appointed to investigate the matter, who appointed the law and the cost incurred by the municipality;
“Has the same law firm done any other work for the municipality prior to this appointment; and who authorised the appointment and payment of the law firm.”
Lastly, the committee wants to zoom into the allegations of corruption into the water tankers tender and corruption in the recruitment of officers for the Durban Metro Police.
In the water tankers matter, the committee directed Xaba to provide it with a detailed report on the top 10 water tank service providers, in particular the ownership, the total amount paid to these service providers over the past 5 years.
“A detailed report on the Metro Police recruitment fraud allegations, in particular: information on any investigations into the matter; checks and balances embedded into the process to ensure transparency after a candidate successfully passed the physical test and progresses to the next step in the recruitment process,” the committee directed Xaba on the police matter.
Xaba’s spokesperson, Mluleki Mntungwa, said he is not aware what was requested, but confirmed that the committee has summoned the municipality.
“There is a scheduled meeting with SCOPA next week. I cannot confirm the matters that will be discussed,” he said.
SCOPA did not respond.
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