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Criminal Case Opened Over Corruption And Tender Irregularities At Amatola Water Board

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Dear Editor

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) took decisive action by formally opening a criminal case with the South African Police Service (SAPS) against individuals implicated in corruption and tender manipulation at the Amatola Water Board.

We have requested that the case be referred to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), better known as the Hawks, for further investigation under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PCCA Act) provisions. The Hawks’ specialised investigative capacity is essential to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable for their actions.

The revelations of corruption and tender manipulation at Amatola Water threaten not only the integrity of the institution but also the water security of communities across the Eastern Cape.

It is unacceptable that an entity responsible for managing a R5.2 billion budget and tasked with supplying water to municipalities is embroiled in such severe misconduct. Communities in Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, and other districts have already faced years of water service failures, and these new allegations only deepen the crisis.

The case opened today concerns serious misconduct allegations against key figures, including Siyabulela Koyo, CEO of the Amatola Water Board, senior staff, and several contractors.

We have also called on SAPS to investigate Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, for allegedly obstructing justice by reversing Koyo’s dismissal despite her knowledge of the ongoing corruption investigation and for failing to report the alleged corruption, as she is duty-bound to do in terms of the PCCA Act.

Critical infrastructure projects worth millions have been compromised due to tender manipulation and bribery, potentially leaving communities without much-needed services. This mismanagement has deepened the province’s water crisis and undermined public trust in government institutions.

The DA’s affidavit and supporting documentation detail multiple alleged instances of corruption, including bribery and tender manipulation. At least nine projects, 17 persons of interest, and 30 contractors have been implicated in the forensic reports.

In addition, Koyo and Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo are alleged to have participated in secret meetings in Cape Town aimed at rigging tenders. Further allegations suggest that Koyo attempted to destroy critical evidence to obstruct a forensic investigation into his conduct.

Despite these damning allegations, Minister Majodina intervened to protect Koyo, instructing the Amatola Water Board to reinstate him after his dismissal. Despite her knowledge of the forensic investigation, this intervention raises serious questions about her role in obstructing justice and failing to act on corruption as required by law.

The DA will not stand by while public funds are plundered, and service delivery is crippled. We demand that law enforcement act swiftly to bring those responsible to justice. Water is a basic human right, and we cannot allow corruption and mismanagement to jeopardise access to this essential resource.

The DA will continue to fight for transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery. We demand that those responsible be held accountable, and we will pursue all avenues to ensure that the people of the Eastern Cape receive the services they are entitled to.

Regards

Dr. Vicky Knoetze MPL
DA Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Legislature

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