Johannesburg – The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the prison case opened in opposition to Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) CEO, Helen Botes, and different senior officers has been escalated to the Directorate for Public Prosecutions.
DA Johannesburg Caucus Leader, Councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, mentioned the Directorate for Public Prosecutions was now investigating attainable wrongdoing involving JPC senior staffers.
“The DA in Johannesburg can reveal that the prison case we opened in opposition to the CEO of the JPC and different senior JPC officers has made its option to the Directorate for Public Prosecutions,” mentioned Councillor Kayser-Echeozonjoku.
“The prison case was opened based mostly on declaration R23 of 2020 by the Special Investigations Unit, which discovered Ms. Botes concerned in a number of violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
“Section 173 of the MFMA establishes prison legal responsibility for municipal officers, significantly accounting officers, who interact in monetary misconduct.”
Councillor Kayser-Echeozonjoku mentioned the City of Johannesburg and the African National Congress (ANC) celebration once more didn’t act in opposition to alleged corruption.
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The DA acted in opposition to corruption, she mentioned.
“In addition, the DA was knowledgeable simply final evening that the board of JPC as soon as once more prolonged the contract of Ms. Helen Botes,” Councillor Kayser-Echeozonjoku mentioned Thursday, 3 July 2025.
“They have performed so regardless of her contract having expired in September 2024, authorized letters from the DA’s authorized staff, and warnings and issues raised by councillors.
“It appears the Executive Mayor, his govt and ANC cadres on the board of JPC are hellbent on violating the Municipal Structures Act, Section 54A that offers with the appointment and appearing appointments of Senior Managers.”
Councillor Kayser-Echeozonjoku mentioned the DA will probably be writing to the newly appointed Acting City Manager, the Executive Mayor, and the MEC to intervene on this illegal extension.
“We will probably be monitoring all actions within the City that contain the JPC and progress on this case.
“We have been knowledgeable that officers have been discovered boasting that ‘nothing will come of the DA’s case’ as a result of they have been related to politicians in nationwide authorities; nonetheless, the arm of the regulation is lengthy, and really diligent.”
