Ex‑Emfuleni fleet manager to remain in custody over alleged R16m vehicle tender fraud

A former Emfuleni municipal fleet manager will remain in custody after an appearance linked to an alleged R16 million vehicle tender fraud. The man appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on 28 July 2026.

Court status and next appearance

Court Police said the accused is expected back in court on Wednesday, 29 July 2029. The accused remains in custody.

Arrest and investigation

The South African Police Service said the man, whose name has not been released, was arrested in Gauteng by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Police said the arrest is connected to the alleged irregular awarding and implementation of a municipal vehicle fleet tender. According to the SAPS, approximately R16 million was paid to a service provider for the delivery of 18 municipal vehicles, including UD trucks and bakkies, but investigations found that only seven of the contracted vehicles were delivered.

Investigations are ongoing and the police said more arrests have not been ruled out.

Related Emfuleni cases

Separately, the article noted that the case against 25‑year‑old Janitha van Reenen‑Coetzee is ongoing. She is charged in a separate fraud case. Her bail application has been denied multiple times.

Van Reenen‑Coetzee is also facing a charge of fraud involving approximately R424,000 that was allegedly stolen from the Emfuleni Local Municipality. It is alleged she misrepresented herself as an independent agent who could help residents obtain discounts on outstanding municipal accounts; victims reportedly provided her with money to make discounted payments on their behalf, but the funds allegedly never reached the municipality. It is further alleged that the municipality paid her approximately R424,000, which was never paid to the intended beneficiaries.

Ongoing proceedings

The police and prosecuting authorities continue to investigate the matters described above.

Editor’s note: This article was corrected to reflect accurate dates and to remove an incorrect implication linking a separate accused to a killing.