uThukela municipality urged to continue service delivery amid arrests
Municipal manager Langelihle Jili, co-accused Bongumenzi Dlamini were arrested on corruption charges
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal has called upon the uThukela District Municipality to maintain uninterrupted service delivery following the arrest of its municipal manager, Langalihle Jili. Jili was apprehended on corruption charges, accused of demanding and receiving R100,000 from a service provider for processing payment for services rendered to the municipality.
Jili made a brief appearance before the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Friday, while his co-accused, Bongumenzi Dlamini, was detained at the Hawks' offices in Durban while attempting to bribe police officers to drop the charges against Jili. Dlamini, aged 26, appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on corruption charges alongside Jili.
Jili allegedly solicited R550,000 from a service provider to facilitate payments for two tenders, while Dlamini allegedly delivered R600,000 to police officers to ensure Jili's release and have the case against him dropped. The two are set to return to court on Tuesday for bail applications.
Siboniso Mngadi, a spokesperson for the KZN CoGTA, emphasized the department's call for the senior management and councillors of the uThukela District Municipality to ensure that service delivery remains uninterrupted. Mngadi also urged the council to appoint a competent Acting Municipal Manager to prevent any service delivery gaps and maintain service continuity for the people of the municipality.
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