More than R7 million in taxpayers' money has now been spent on legal fees linked to disciplinary cases involving suspended employees at the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality, piling further financial pressure on a municipality already under fire for paying nearly R24 million to officials who have remained on suspension for years.
The latest revelations have intensified scrutiny of one of Gauteng's most troubled municipalities, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) warning that millions of rand that could have been invested in service delivery are instead being consumed by unresolved disciplinary processes.
The Star previously reported that 22 municipal employees remain suspended for alleged misconduct. Although the duration of each suspension differs, collectively the cases stretch over several years.
According to DA Emfuleni mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala, information obtained from the municipality shows that legal costs arising from the prolonged disciplinary processes have now exceeded R7 million.
"We requested details of the legal costs incurred as a result of these prolonged suspensions. The amount paid to all the law firms involved totals more than R7 million," Chabalala said.
