Businessman and former ANC Gauteng Treasury Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza and Radio 2000 presenter Sbu “Dj Sbu” Leope are alleged to have swindled the City of Ekurhuleni over R100 million.
Ekurhuleni Legal Head Advocate Kemi Behari testified at the Madlanga Commission that a disciplinary investigation into Ekurhuleni senior manager Mojapelo was abruptly closed despite evidence of misconduct.
The probe concerned over R100 million in municipal grants for events, which Behari said allegedly benefited celebrities TK Nciza and DJ Sbu Leope.
““All investigations have been blocked. And that is why now I’m facing repercussions because Nciza mentioned one thing,” Behari told the commission.
Behari explained he became involved in the labour matter concerning Mojapelo, then COO, under instructions from his HOD and the HR HOD, not the city manager.
“The only time I was involved in labour matters was when it dealt with a senior manager. Nciza had close ties to Mojapelo, which complicated efforts to pursue the investigation. Attempts to secure witnesses for the SIU report were unsuccessful,” he said.
According to Behari, TK Nciza applied pressure to prevent accountability.
“The only people we can call now are TK Nciza and Sbu Leope, because they’re the ones the evidence is pointing to as having benefited from this entire thing,” he said.
Behari said his HOD later pulled him aside and told him the matter had been settled, effectively halting the investigation.
Behari also addressed broader governance issues, including flawed public participation on special levies, which he said caused Ekurhuleni to lose around R200 million.
“You put in a special levy, then only when Tembisa’s uprising happened did you decide to go back. But your initial process of public participation was flawed,” he explained.