The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane has formally written to the Speaker of Council and the City Manager requesting an investigation into Defenders of the People (DOP) Councillor Rufus Mphahlele, who serves as Chairperson of the Section 79 Housing Committee.
In a leaked voice recording, Cllr Mphahlele allegedly states that a businessman who donated over R300,000 to his party was later assisted in securing a City tender. He further claims to have fought for the awarding of the contract, with continued support expected in return.
If verified, these admissions point to a deeply troubling abuse of public office, where municipal contracts are treated as political currency rather than instruments of service delivery.
This latest revelation points to a broader pattern of criminality taking hold within the City. Testimony before the Madlanga Commission has already implicated ActionSA and the EFF in alleged attempts to influence tender processes. Finance MMC and Deputy Mayor Cllr Eugene Modise has also been linked to multiple Tshwane contracts, including water tankering, which ballooned to R777 million in 2024/25 under his watch.
Taken together, these developments paint a troubling picture: the DA was not removed from government in Tshwane in the interests of residents, but to make way for a coalition of corruption that puts patronage ahead of service delivery.
Residents of Tshwane deserve a government that prioritises service delivery, not one where tenders are exchanged for political donations.
The DA remains committed to fighting corruption and restoring clean, accountable governance in South Africa’s capital City.