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ActionSA Johannesburg Caucus is deeply concerned that despite the existence of a prima facie case of corruption and extortion against Cllr Sithembiso Zungu, the Former Chief Whip of Council and now Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Group Corporate and Shared Services, Mayor Dada Morero has proceeded with his reckless appointment. This decision by the mayor not only undermines the rule of law but also betrays the trust and interests of over six million residents of Johannesburg.

It has been alleged that Cllr Zungu received funds from Mr Stegman, deposited into his personal bank account via a company named CITYDEV Construction, which is involved in housing development projects. Further claims suggest that Cllr Zungu accepted no less than R400,000 from CITYDEV as a so-called "protection fee."

These allegations are not new. ActionSA previously submitted a formal request to the then-Speaker of Council, Cllr Colleen Makhubela, calling for Cllr Zungu’s referral to the City’s Ethics Committee for urgent investigation.

As a party founded on the principles of accountability and ethical governance, ActionSA is clear that Cllr Zungu must be held accountable. More importantly, we reject Mayor Morero’s reckless decision to elevate an individual clouded by allegations of corruption into a position of executive authority. In doing so, the mayor has demonstrated a blatant disregard for good governance and has confirmed that political expediency, rather than integrity, guides the ANC’s appointments.

To ensure that justice is served and transparency prevails, ActionSA will formally write to the South African Police Service, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) to investigate these claims. These matters warrant the highest level of scrutiny.

In the interim, we call on Cllr Zungu to voluntarily step down from his MMC role and take the necessary steps to clear his name. Furthermore, we hold Mayor Morero responsible for deliberately appointing an individual facing such serious allegations, and we condemn this act as an insult to the residents of Johannesburg who demand ethical and competent leadership.

ActionSA believes that there is no coincidence between these dubious appointments by the governing coalition and the witch-hunt body restarted last week solely to target and discredit the fight against corruption and mismanagement in the City of Johannesburg.

ActionSA will exercise maximum oversight and resist any attempts to return Johannesburg to an era of rampant corruption.

Issued by ActionSA Johannesburg Caucus leader Marcel Coutriers