How an employee scammed 71 people out of R420 000 by promising Durban Metro Police jobs

By Sihle Mavuso

An eThekwini Municipality employee who was not involved in the recruitment process allegedly scammed 71 people out of R420 000 by promising them jobs in the Durban Metro Police, city officials said on Wednesday.

The allegations emerged during a high-stakes press conference by eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele and Durban Metro Police head Sibonelo Mchunu, following claims circulating on social media that senior officials had pocketed R20 million in bribes to recruit people into the metro police.

Mchunu said the employee was working away from the recruitment process but appeared to have obtained inside information that enabled him to target prospective applicants.

The employee, who was not named, had been employed by the municipality in 2025 and was working at Albert Park in central Durban when he allegedly began soliciting money from people seeking jobs.

“We had 71 complainants that said we have paid money and we