Emfuleni paid about R24m to 22 suspended employees over several years, legislature replies show

Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) paid up to R24 million in salaries to 22 employees who have been suspended for possible misconduct, according to replies in the Gauteng legislature. The information was disclosed in response to questions from the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate in Emfuleni, Kingsol Chabalala.

How much was paid and for how long

The legislature replies show that 22 employees remain suspended and that the collective payments to those staff total up to R24 million. The length of individual suspensions varies, but Chabalala said they “collectively, span several years.”

Legal costs add to the bill

Chabalala told the legislature his office requested details of legal costs linked to the prolonged suspensions. He said the amount paid to all law firms involved in these matters is more than R7 million.

DA reaction and questions of governance

The DA described the situation as unacceptable and said spending taxpayers’ money on lengthy suspensions and associated legal fees is difficult to justify. Chabalala asked why the municipality is “dragging out these suspensions” and raised the possibility that the practice could reflect either “cadre employment” or mismanagement, saying the situation “reflects poorly on the ANC-led municipality.”

Political context

Chabalala used the disclosure to urge Emfuleni residents to register to vote ahead of a voter registration weekend and pointed to a recent by-election victory for the DA in Ward 28 as evidence of residents seeking different leadership.

What the disclosure does not say

The Gauteng legislature replies provide the totals for payments to suspended employees and legal costs but do not offer detailed breakdowns in the material released with the questions and answers. The replies also do not include information about the status or outcomes of the misconduct processes for the suspended employees.

Gauteng legislature replies and comments by Kingsol Chabalala form the basis of this report.