It was revealed on 19 January that the latest allegedly corrupt official to be arrested by the City of Johannesburg’s anti-corruption unit was a former candidate property valuer.
The woman was arrested on charges of fraud and corruption following the airing of a Carte Blanche expose on 6 November last year where irregularities in the property valuations department were uncovered.
According to City of Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, a deputy director has also been suspended pending swift disciplinary processes.
Mashaba said through an investigation conducted by the City’s internal forensic investigations unit, headed by recently-appointed Shadrack Sibiya, the arrest of the woman was made. The suspected corrupt official is expected to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 23 January.
Mashaba said more arrests of suspects linked to fraudulent activities were still pending.
The arrested official was identified as the person responsible for irregular and fraudulent adjustments and devaluing of 22 properties owned by the City, amounting to about R500 million and resulting in a R40-million revenue loss.
“This money should have been used to provide basic and much-needed services such as water, electricity and refuse removal to the poor and most vulnerable residents of our city,” added Mashaba.
The mayor, who declared corruption public enemy number one and has been well on his way to eradicating corrupt officials, said the City also intended going after private companies and individuals who worked with these officials. “These individuals in the private sector must also face the full might of the law and [the] stolen money returned.”
The property valuation process is one of the elements within the City’s billing system, a system at the core of the City’s ability to pay for its own expenses, which Mashaba made a priority to improve.
By the end of December this year, a diagnostic exercise focusing on the property valuation process, reviewing the indigent list, resolving billing queries and collecting more revenue, will be concluded.
“In the last property valuation process, the City had to file 60 000 objections against its own service provider. This cannot happen again because those who are over-valued, object, and many who are under-valued remain quiet.”
Meanwhile, on 10 January, it was revealed that 106 vehicle licensing department officials were to be arrested and suspended.
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