ANC expels Joburg councillor who allegedly illegally sold municipal stands

The ANC has expelled one of its councillors in the City of Johannesburg who was arrested earlier on Tuesday for allegedly illegally selling two City-owned property stands.

The ANC Greater Johannesburg Region said it had removed ward 92 councillor Leepile Motsumi after its integrity committee had resolved that he should be recalled from his position.

“At the ANC Integrity Committee meeting Mr Motsumi was given an opportunity to present his case and after deliberations by the committee‚ it was found that Mr Motsumi’s actions were morally and ethically unacceptable‚” it said in a statement.

According to a statement by Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba‚ the councillor was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly illegally selling two City-owned property stands for R210‚000.

A City employee‚ working at the Social Development Department in Region A and who is alleged to be romantically involved with the councillor‚ was also arrested‚ he said.

The arrests were made by the Hawks‚ together with the City’s Group Forensic and Investigation Service (GFIS) Department.

The councillor is from the Kaalfontein‚ Midrand area.

“Investigators allege that monies from the illicit transaction were paid into the employee’s bank account‚ who then transferred the money to the ANC councillor‚” Mashaba said.

The suspects would appear in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court on Wednesday where they would be charged with fraud and corruption‚ he said.

“It is alleged that the ANC Councillor sold the first stand to his first victim for R80‚000 between December 2016 and January 2017. After being allocated a stand in Kaalfontein the victim started building on the property and was stopped by residents from the area who indicated that the site was earmarked for a communal soccer field.

“The second victim was also illegally sold a stand next to the first victim for R130‚000‚” Mashaba said.

He said the complainant had become aware of the ANC councillor’s alleged fraudulent conduct when she attempted to lawfully sell the stand.

Her attorney requested proof of ownership on behalf of her client from the ANC councillor‚ who allegedly then submitted a fraudulent letter to the attorney‚ on the City’s letterhead‚ stating that the victim had lawfully bought the stand from him for R130‚ 000.

Mashaba said that since coming into office‚ his administration had uncovered almost R15-billion in corruption.