The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed criminal complaints with the police against the municipal managers of Makana and Sundays River Valley, citing a pattern of adverse audit outcomes, alleged irregular expenditure running into millions of rand and unresolved sewage and environmental problems.
Affidavits submitted to police
DA parliamentary leader and MP George Michalakis submitted affidavits to the authorities earlier this week seeking investigations into the conduct of Makana municipal manager Pumelelo Kate and Sundays River Valley municipal manager Thabiso Klaas, according to the party.
In the documents relating to Makana, the DA highlights a string of unfavourable audit opinions from the Auditor‑General of South Africa (AGSA), including a sequence of seven disclaimer opinions. A disclaimer indicates the auditor could not obtain sufficient suitable evidence to form an opinion on whether financial statements were fairly presented.
Allegations and figures
The DA’s affidavit alleges that Makana incurred approximately R66 million in unauthorised expenditure and about R15.2 million in wasteful expenditure. The party also points to multiple procurement deficiencies and compliance findings recorded by AGSA.
| Item | Alleged / Reported |
|---|---|
| Consecutive disclaimer audit outcomes | 7 years |
| Unauthorised expenditure | R66 million |
| Wasteful expenditure | R15.2 million |
| Reported non-compliance findings | 42 |
| Material irregularities since 2019 | 3 |
Procurement and internal control concerns
Michalakis’s affidavit cites multiple procurement irregularities flagged by AGSA, including instances where tenders were not advertised, quotations were not obtained from accredited suppliers and contract records were missing. The DA also alleges that AGSA could not verify whether conditional infrastructure grants were spent in line with their designated purposes.
According to the party, Makana has recorded three material irregularities since 2019 that relate to internal controls and problems at a landfill site and a wastewater treatment plant. The affidavit asserts that the municipal manager did not take sufficient remedial action after these material irregularities were brought to light and failed to implement prior audit recommendations.
Sewage pollution and prior police complaint
The DA’s papers make reference to environmental concerns. The submission notes that a criminal complaint was opened at the Makhanda police station on 27 March 2025 over alleged breaches of the National Water Act and the risk of raw sewage contaminating a water resource. A separate affidavit, provided to police by a DA ward councillor, states the sewage problems persist. During an oversight visit to the Belmont Valley Wastewater Treatment Works in March 2025, councillors observed operational shortcomings, the affidavit says.
Sunday River Valley concerns
The DA’s separate affidavit against the Sunday River Valley municipal manager raises similar issues concerning governance and financial management, though the party’s public statements focused more heavily on the Makana case. Both complaints call for the SAPS to open thorough investigations into potential criminal conduct relating to municipal financial management and failures in service delivery.
- What the DA is seeking: criminal probes into alleged financial and environmental offences;
- Primary allegations: repeated disclaimer audit opinions, unauthorised and wasteful expenditure, procurement irregularities and failure to fix sewage infrastructure;
- Next steps: the matters are with the SAPS for investigation; AGSA reports remain central to the DA’s case.
Implications for residents and oversight
If substantiated, the allegations would represent serious failures of governance and financial control in municipalities that serve thousands of residents. Disclaimer opinions and repeated adverse audit findings undermine public confidence, complicate service delivery and can jeopardise municipalities’ ability to access conditional grants. Wastewater-treatment and landfill failures carry direct public-health and environmental risks for local communities.
Municipal managers are appointed to ensure compliance with legislation, financial management and the maintenance of critical infrastructure. The DA’s action places pressure on oversight institutions — including the SAPS, AGSA and the provincial government — to pursue accountability and redress for residents affected by poor services and alleged financial mismanagement.
WE NEWS did not receive an immediate response from the offices of the named municipal managers or from the municipalities concerned. The SAPS confirmation of receipt of the DA’s affidavits and any subsequent investigative steps were not available at the time of publication.
Follow-up reporting will track whether formal charges are instituted, whether AGSA’s findings prompt remedial measures, and how provincial oversight structures respond to these new criminal referrals.
