Former Emfuleni fleet manager remains in custody in R16 million tender fraud case

The individual, arrested by the Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng, is expected back in court on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, for a formal bail application judgment and remains in custody. The arrest is connected to the alleged irregular awarding and implementation of a municipal vehicle fleet tender. Approximately R16 million was reportedly paid to a service provider for 18 municipal vehicles, including UD trucks and bakkies, but investigations revealed only seven vehicles were delivered.

Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests have not been ruled out. In a separate matter, the case against Janitha van Reenen-Coetzee, 25, linked to the killing of Emfuleni Local Municipality accountant Martha Rantsofu, is ongoing. Van Reenen-Coetzee faces a fraud charge involving approximately R424,000 allegedly stolen from the Emfuleni Local Municipality, with her bail application denied due to flight risk concerns.

She allegedly misrepresented herself as an agent offering discounts on municipal accounts, taking money from victims that never reached the municipality, and submitting claims to the municipality on their behalf, receiving approximately R424,000 that was not paid to the intended beneficiaries.