'Stop stealing public money': DA's Maliyakhe Shelembe blasts uThukela Municipal Manager Langelihle Jili over R100k corruption case

DA uThukela Political Head Maliyakhe Shelembe reacts outside court after UThukela Municipal Manager Langelihle Jili and Bongumenzi Dlamini's bail hearing for alleged R100k and R600k bribery was adjourned to Thursday

The bail hearing for uThukela District Municipality Municipal Manager Langelihle Jili and his co-accused, Bongumenzi Dlamini, has been adjourned to Thursday at the Durban Magistrate's Court.

Jili, 46, and Dlamini, 26, were arrested by the Hawks' Durban Serious Corruption Investigation team on October 21 on charges relating to alleged corruption.

The pair first appeared in the Durban Specialised Commercial Crime Court and were remanded in custody, with the case transferred to the Durban Magistrate's Court for their formal bail application.

DA uThukela Political Head, Maliyakhe Shelembe, said corruption in municipalities had reached crisis levels.

"You cannot demand a bribe, R100,000, from a service provider who has already done the work. That money is for the people," he said.

According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo, Jili was arrested during an undercover operation after allegedly accepting R100,000 from a service provider in exchange for processing payment for services rendered to the municipality.

During his arrest, Jili allegedly offered investigating officers a further R600,000 to secure his release, arranging for the cash to be delivered to the Hawks' offices in Durban.

The Hawks seized the R600,000 as evidence and arrested Dlamini for allegedly offering gratification to police officers.

Shelembe commented on the second bribery allegation, stating: "And then when the Hawks arrest you, you try to bribe the Hawks again with R600,000 - now that is too much. You are adding another case on top of the case."

"These municipal managers must be taught a lesson. They must stop stealing public money. The Hawks did a good job here. We want to see justice. If you are a manager, you must work for the people, not demand money from service providers," he said.

KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks, Brigadier Zenobia Mulligan, has welcomed the arrests and commended officers for refusing the alleged R600,000 bribe, saying their integrity was "beyond reproach."

The bail application will continue on Thursday.