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Majodina cannot investigate herself

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Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the latest corruption scandal at Amatola Water, where Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is now investigating allegations that implicate her own department.

The DA will be submitting a formal request to the Presidency, urging the President to authorise an independent investigation into Amatola Water, one that is free from the interference of those who may have a vested interest in the outcome. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) should be tasked with this probe to ensure transparency and accountability.

It is beyond absurd that Majodina is presiding over an investigation into a crisis that she herself helped to create. Under her watch, the entity has been plagued by governance failures, tender irregularities, and political interference, all of which have contributed to chronic water shortages in the Eastern Cape.

The whistleblower report, titled The Den of Thieves, alleges that senior appointments were manipulated to benefit political allies, minimum hiring criteria were altered, and board members with conflicts of interest participated in selection processes.

These allegations echo the very corruption the DA has previously exposed, including concerns over tender rigging, mismanagement of a R5.2 billion budget, and the reinstatement of a CEO accused of corruption, which led to the opening of a case in October last year.

The case exposed a network of corruption involving senior officials and politically connected individuals accused of tender manipulation, bribery, and obstruction of justice. Forensic reports implicate 17 persons of interest and 30 contractors in bid-rigging and financial misconduct, including allegations that suspended CEO Siyabulela Koyo and Deputy Minister David Mahlobo held secret meetings to manipulate tenders while Koyo allegedly destroyed evidence to obstruct investigation.

Minister Majodina’s direct intervention to reinstate Koyo, despite her knowledge of the corruption probe, further raises serious legal questions regarding her role in enabling and protecting those implicated.

Instead of taking decisive action, Majodina has interfered, shielded allies, and now wants to investigate herself. The people of the Eastern Cape deserve an independent and credible inquiry, not a political cover-up.

In addition to the letter to the Presidency, the DA will be submitting questions to the Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, to challenge him on what steps his government is taking to address the crisis at Amatola Water.

Water is not a luxury, it is a basic human right. The DA will not allow corruption and political interference to further compromise water security in our province. We will continue to fight for real accountability and ensure that those responsible for mismanagement face the consequences.

The time for internal cover-ups is over. The President must act now.

Regards

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

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