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The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply troubled by the recent police raid at the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) offices, intended to gather information on allegedly irregular contracts. This led to the arrest of Mr Themba Mathibe, the acting CEO of JOSHCO.

This is not an isolated incident. It comes against a backdrop of serious governance concerns the DA has been raising for years, warnings about dubious appointments, lack of transparency, and a culture of cadre deployment that prioritises political loyalty over competence and accountability.

In 2024, the DA revealed information about a “cadre deployment web of corruption” at JOSHCO, where a suspended chief operating officer, also an ANCYL NEC member, was quietly moved into another senior role despite corruption and maladministration concerns, and staff who raised issues were reportedly intimidated.

Today’s news shows why those warnings were crucial. Senior positions are being filled without merit, without transparency, and without proper oversight. This is resulting in the entire system collapsing under a burden of mistrust, inefficiency, investigation, and intervention by law enforcement.

For ordinary Johannesburg residents, this means:

-Poorly run housing services that leave families in limbo;
-Less accountability and fewer answers when things go wrong;
-A City government more focused on protecting insiders than protecting residents;
-And now, taxpayers footing the bill for the fallout of failed governance.

The DA respects the rule of law and the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. However, the broader context, a pattern of questionable appointments, governance failures, and the stifling of legitimate concerns, cannot be ignored. Residents have every right to ask how someone with these kinds of questions attached to their record was appointed to senior positions in the first place.

The DA calls on the City of Johannesburg leadership to:

-Provide transparent answers to residents about how Mr Mathibe was appointed;
-Release all recruitment and vetting documentation for public scrutiny, as permitted by law;
-Support law enforcement fully and without obstruction;
-And recommit to merit-based, transparent governance in all City entities.

Johannesburg residents do not want politics disguised as public service. They want honest leadership that puts people first — not appointments that put the City at risk.

Issued by Cllr Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku - DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader