Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
The Auditor-General calls this a material irregularity. A material irregularity is the Auditor-General's name for a broken law or duty that caused, or may cause, a big loss or serious harm. It first told the metro in December 2022. The metro's first investigation, finished in April 2024, did not find all the officials responsible. A second one, finished in October 2025, named six more officials. The metro gave no proof that disciplinary steps against them had started. The Auditor-General set 12 June 2026 as the date to finish the fix.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 242 (printed page 238), box 'Delays in disciplinary process: eThekwini Metro (KwaZulu-Natal)': R5,61 million paid to invalid EPWP beneficiaries January 2017 - October 2022; MI notified December 2022; investigation concluded April 2024 and reopened; reopened investigation concluded October 2025 and identified six additional officials; 'no evidence was provided to confirm whether disciplinary proceedings had commenced'; remedial action February 2026, to be implemented by June 2026. PDF page 316 (printed page 312), table 'Material irregularities at recommendation or remedial action stage per province': eThekwini Metro, 'Payments under Expanded Public Works Programme to invalid beneficiaries', final implementation date 12 June 2026, status at 31 March 2026 'Remedial action: Follow-up not yet due'.
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Cyril Xaba (ANC). Council run by ANC, IFP, National Freedom Party. From Jul 2024 to present.
EWN. Published 10 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 ('has been elected as the new mayor of the eThekwini Metro Municipality'); paragraph 3 ('elected unopposed in a special council meeting')
The Mercury. Published 12 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 4 ('ANC-designated Cyril Xaba'); paragraph 5 ('the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP, who already have a working arrangement at provincial level, extend this arrangement at a municipal level'); paragraph 6 (speaker ANC, deputy mayor NFP, MPAC EFF). Paragraph 1 is the article's first line after the photo caption.
Daily Maverick. Published 10 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 13 ('In Exco, the ANC has four members, the DA three, the IFP one and the other is from the National Freedom Party')
Sunday Times. Published 28 August 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (the DA in KwaZulu-Natal 'will continue to occupy opposition benches in eThekwini'); paragraph 2 (DA-ANC coalition talks deadlocked); paragraph 6 (the DA 'was satisfied with its role of opposition in the metro')
Daily News. Published 9 September 2024.
Where to look: Counting 'Durban — Despite working well...' as paragraph 1: paragraph 1 (the DA turned down the ANC's request to work together in eThekwini); paragraph 6 (the IFP's Mdu Nkosi chairs the Trading Services committee); paragraph 8 (Macpherson: 'in the best interests of the residents to remain in opposition')
The Mercury. Published 31 March 2025.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 ('The IFP is part of a government of unity in the city and leads the Trading Services committee'; 'The party said it took exception to claims that, by virtue of being part of the governance structure, it is running the municipality'); paragraph 6 (IFP councillor Jonathan Annipen: 'This municipality is not run by the ANC and IFP alone' and 'just one Exco seat and a caucus of 17 members'). Paragraph 1 is the first paragraph after the standfirst and photo credit ('The IFP in the eThekwini Municipality is pushing back...').
Daily Maverick. Published 14 October 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 54 (claim by the IFP: 'Hlengwa lashed out at Hoosen for being in opposition in eThekwini but also occupying three of the city's executive committee seats'). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph ('Pollsters are predicting a major shake-up...'), after the standfirst and photo credits; section headings are not counted.
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