A municipal employee has been arrested after being caught red-handed siphoning diesel from a water tanker in Reservoir Hills on 11 February. The arrest followed a tip-off from a concerned community member who reported the illicit activity anonymously.
Acting swiftly on the information, a team of investigators apprehended the suspect, who was taken into custody and appeared in court on 12 February.
It was later revealed that the truck in question was supposed to be at the City Fleet workshop for tyre repairs, and the designated driver was on leave at the time of the incident.
Head of the City Integrity and Investigations Unit, Jimmy Ngcobo, commended the vigilance of the community member who reported the crime.
“The Municipality is losing millions of rands due to the theft of diesel and other municipal resources. Investigations have uncovered that this particular theft operation has been ongoing for over two years. The suspect was selling diesel for R13 per litre, significantly lower than the market rate, making around R5,200 per 400-litre tank,” said Ngcobo.
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He issued a stern warning to other municipal employees engaged in fraudulent activities, cautioning that they too would be caught.
“We are closely monitoring diesel consumption in municipal vehicles. It was suspicious that a single truck was refueling four times a day. We have also identified other vehicles with excessively high diesel expenses. Employees engaged in such behaviour are a liability to the Municipality. According to labour law, workplace theft constitutes misconduct and is subject to severe disciplinary action,” he said.
Ngcobo also highlighted ongoing investigations into various fraudulent activities, including theft of diesel, asphalt tar, vehicle parts, and the illegal sale of refuse bags and stationery. Additionally, cases of municipal fleet misuse are under scrutiny.
He further emphasized that employees caught engaging in corruption or fraud cannot resign to evade disciplinary action, as a moratorium is in place preventing those with criminal cases from leaving their posts.
“It is the responsibility of management to enforce stricter controls to deter theft and corruption. We urge residents to report fraud, as it directly impacts service delivery,” Ngcobo added.
The public is encouraged to report fraudulent activities by calling 0800 20 20 20 or emailing ombuds@durban.gov.za.
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