The DA in eThekwini Municipality welcomes the arrest of eThekwini’s forensic investigator from the City Integrity and Investigation Unit (CIIU), for allegedly trying to extort money from a businessman.
According to media reports, the investigator told the businessman he was being investigated and demanded R5 million from him to make the case go away.
While we condemn in the strongest possible terms this display of corruption and defeating the ends of justice, we are not surprised by these serious allegations as it has become clear to us that the CIIU tasked with investigating the wrongdoings and corruption in the city has over the recent years been infiltrated by rogue agents and has become severely compromised.
The unit has been operating in secrecy and has become notorious for suppressing damning investigative reports implicating corrupt ANC politicians, officials, and dodgy contractors in the city.
We have previously said before that if the ANC is serious about fighting rampant corruption and wrongdoing, it must hold people accountable for stealing funds belonging to the people of this city. All CIIU ongoing investigations and reports must be accessible to the public including the recommendations made. It is reported that there are currently hundreds of reports which are outstanding, some completed but hidden because of political interference.
We commend the South African Police Service for stepping up their efforts to fight corruption and we call upon the city and Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda in particular to use this opportunity to demonstrate to the people of eThekwini that they are serious about fighting corruption and putting the needs of the community first by immediately dismissing the implicated investigator and set a strong example for those who might be tempted to perpetuate corruption in the city.
In the past implicated officials have been suspended with full pay and simply reshuffled to a different department to continue looting.