Emfuleni Local Municipality in Johanneburg has opened a criminal case against seven municipal employees and several service providers after a forensic investigation exposed a R16 million “ghost fleet” procurement scandal.
Municipal Manager April Ntuli laid the charges following findings of widespread irregularities in the municipality’s fleet department.
According to a local report the probe revealed that millions were spent on trucks, bakkies and heavy machinery that were either never delivered or became unusable shortly after acquisition.
According to preliminary findings, officials approved invoices as proof of delivery despite vehicles never arriving.
Investigators flagged duplicate engine numbers on some assets, while others were reportedly registered under third parties instead of the municipality.
Reports suggest the municipality paid for up to 17 vehicles but received only a fraction, with at least one vehicle still unaccounted for.