The City of Cape Town has taken decisive action against a high-ranking official accused of colluding with the construction mafia and the underworld.
Sipokazi September, the Director of Public Housing, has been fired by the municipality following her guilty verdict at a disciplinary hearing. This comes after her suspension and a search and seizure operation in her office, which was conducted by the police amid tender fraud allegations against former Mayco member for human settlements, Malusi Booi.
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According to a source, the search warrant posted on September’s door listed the names of alleged suspects, including three underworld figures. The investigation into dealings with dubious contractors led to the suspension of two more officials, Duke Gumede and Xolile Fula.
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo confirmed these incidents and stated that September was summarily dismissed on January 9, while the other two officials are suspended for serious misconduct.
The City of Cape Town is committed to taking action against officials found guilty of misconduct, as it aims to rebuild public confidence in public housing. Mayco member for human settlements, Carl Pophaim, emphasized that the City will thoroughly investigate allegations of maleficence, even if it means scrutinizing all 900 officials in the directorate.
Pophaim expressed shock at the infiltration of the directorate by underworld figures linked to the construction mafia, who initially resorted to threats of violence at certain sites.
These recent developments follow City manager Lungelo Mbandazayo’s announcement of blacklisting contractors associated with alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield’s wife, Nicole Johnson.
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Mbandazayo suspended all tenders and launched a comprehensive investigation into companies and officials connected to the murky underworld, resulting in the suspension of officials and the blacklisting of companies. The investigation has also uncovered links between officials and Johnson’s companies.
As the investigation into these allegations continues, the City of Cape Town remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability within its ranks.
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