{
  "id": 3479460,
  "title": "Action to be taken on implicated workers post criminal case: Emfuleni",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/action-to-be-taken-on-implicated-workers-post-criminal-case-emfuleni",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T09:22:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/action-to-be-taken-on-implicated-workers-post-criminal-case-emfuleni/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Emfuleni Local Municipality in the Vaal has announced it will wait for the conclusion of both a criminal case and an internal investigation before taking any action against seven employees implicated in alleged criminal activity. The employees appeared in Vanderbijlpark Magistrates' Court on Monday, accused of involvement in an alleged R 150 000 electricity reconnection scheme. The scheme allegedly involved charging residents and businesses for illegal reconnection of their electricity after disconnection. The employees are also accused of manipulating municipal records to show reduced outstanding balances, while the original debts remained unpaid. Mayoral Spokesperson Lucky Shashaoka stated that the municipality is currently unable to suspend the employees and that the internal investigation is necessary before any further action can be taken. Shashaoka explained, \"The municipality will institute its own internal investigation; on the conclusion of such investigation, appropriate action will be taken by the municipality. So we just have to wait for two parallel processes to run: the criminal case and also the internal investigation wherein applicable labour laws will be used.\"",
  "summary": "Seven Emfuleni Municipality employees appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates' Court on Monday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}