Following allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement at the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC), the Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed criminal charges against five officials.

Findings from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) show unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in excess of R18.3-million.

The DA has laid charges against former JPC CEO Helen Botes, former JPC CFO Imraan Bhamjee, Supply Chain Management senior manager Fitzgerald Ramaboea, Special Projects GM Gowrie Sunker and Supply Chain Management manager Nandisa Zondo.

It criticised the City of Johannesburg’s legal opinion, which it believes sets out to discredit the SIU’s findings instead of implementing the recommendations.

The DA wants the courts to enforce accountability, as it warned of possible threats against those taking action against the implicated officials.

“Today, we have submitted a comprehensive dossier of evidence to the South African Police Service — including the SIU proclamation, relevant Council reports, previous SIU findings, correspondence, and the City's commissioned legal opinion. We have formally requested that this matter be escalated to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority for full investigation. Johannesburg residents deserve to know the full truth, and they deserve real accountability,” the party said.