Johannesburg — The City of Johannesburg has appointed Lesiba Malotana, a Gauteng health department official who was the subject of a 2025 Special Investigating Unit (SIU) lifestyle audit, as head of its public safety department from 1 September on a permanent contract.
Contractual safeguards and probation
The city said the appointment is subject to a six-month probation period, regular lifestyle audits and a contractual requirement to disclose any “adverse investigative findings” against him. It also said pre-employment checks included competency assessments, reference checks, qualification verification and review of previous performance and dismissal records.
City representatives described the measures as rigorous contractual safeguards designed to prevent a person under investigation from evading accountability while serving in a sensitive municipal role.
“The appointment reaffirms the city’s commitment to good governance, accountable leadership and the delivery of effective, responsive public safety services to the residents of Johannesburg,” the city said.
SIU probe and previous suspension
Malotana attracted scrutiny after a lifestyle audit by the SIU in 2025 that recommended a forensic investigation into whether he benefited through relationships with service providers linked to alleged corruption at Tembisa Hospital. The SIU report reportedly presented evidence of possible serious misconduct and suggested further investigation.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi suspended Malotana from his acting head of department role in October 2025. Lesufi’s office later noted the SIU findings after Malotana did not challenge the suspension, saying in November the SIU report made a compelling case for a forensic probe.
Role and vacancy
The public safety head post had been vacant since at least February 2023 and was readvertised in January this year. The city confirmed the postholders underwent recruitment vetting before the appointment was made effective on 1 September.
| Event | Date / period |
|---|---|
| SIU lifestyle audit and recommendation for forensic probe | 2025 |
| Suspension from acting HOD role | October 2025 |
| Vacant public safety HOD post advertised | Vacant since at least February 2023; readvertised January |
| Appointment effective | 1 September |
What the city says and what remains unresolved
City officials emphasised the appointment was the product of a formal selection process and that contractual measures would reduce risk while strengthening accountability. They framed the hire as necessary to ensure continuity and delivery of public safety services for Johannesburg residents.
However, the SIU’s recommendation for a forensic investigation into connections between Malotana and service providers implicated in alleged fraud worth hundreds of millions remains a salient factor. The city’s assurances rest on administrative mechanisms rather than the conclusion of any criminal or forensic process.
- Key safeguards: six-month probation, regular lifestyle audits, disclosure obligations, and standard vetting checks.
- Outstanding concerns: SIU recommended forensic work has not been reported as concluded in the public domain.
- Public impact: leadership of the public safety portfolio carries oversight of policing coordination, metro policing functions and emergency response planning in Africa’s largest city.
Residents and governance implications
For Johannesburg residents, the appointment places a figure with contested integrity under the authority of a municipality responsible for safety and emergency management. Questions about transparency, the timing of the appointment and whether administrative contracts are sufficient to protect the public purse are likely to persist until the SIU’s recommendations are fully addressed.
Municipal governance experts and oversight bodies often caution that contractual safeguards are important but cannot substitute for thorough criminal or forensic processes where the SIU has signalled possible serious misconduct. The city's position is that its processes and the probationary framework will ensure accountability within the municipal employment relationship.
The SIU has previously pursued investigations and recoveries linked to procurement irregularities in health facilities. Any decision by investigators or prosecutors to open further probes following the SIU's 2025 work would shape the narrative around the appointment and could prompt further scrutiny of Johannesburg’s vetting and governance systems.
For now, Malotana takes charge of public safety administration in Johannesburg under a watchful set of contractual terms while questions from the SIU report linger in the background.
