Siphelele Nketo
A WARD councillor in the Greater Kokstad Municipality has faced accusations of taking hard-earned cash from desperate job seekers in exchange for work opportunities in the municipality.
According to reports, the councillor, belonging to the ANC party, has been accused of taking money from farm dwellers and unemployed youth who depend on social grants and domestic work to survive.
The allegations emerged on social media recently, where screenshots and voice notes were shared by concerned community members.
One victim, a farm dweller (26), told the Post that she paid the councillor R2 000 in 2024 for an in-service training placement in the municipality. She further claimed that an additional R1 000 was paid in March this year after being promised the placement would be facilitated.
“I approached the councillor with the hope that she would understand my desperation for work. But instead, she wanted money. I paid the money simply because I was desperate for in-service training,” she said, adding that the money was borrowed from a loan shark (mashonisa).
She said nothing was delivered, and when she demanded her money back, it was never refunded.
In another incident, a woman alleged that she paid the councillor R1 500 in 2019 to help her son secure employment in the municipality. She also claimed that no job materialised and her money was not returned. Several victims who spoke to the Post said they live in fear of victimisation should they expose the alleged dealings.
Meanwhile, the ANC in the Kokstad sub-region has condemned the allegations.
A special council sitting in the Greater Kokstad Municipality was convened on Wednesday, October 14, with council speaker Bheki Nozaza explaining to the media that a committee was launched to establish facts over the allegations. The committee consists of six councillors from different political parties. According to Nozaza, the committee was given the task to speed up the probe. He said he has escalated the matter to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
“We wish to confirm our bold stance of non-tolerance to any form of corruption, especially when it is about soliciting bribes from members of the public. We will act within the confines of the law and afford the said councillor the right to be heard,” said Nozaza. The Post did attempt to contact the councillor for a comment, however the phone rang unanswered.
