Emfuleni Municipal Manager Files Criminal Charges Against Staff and Vendors in R16m 'Ghost Fleet' Fraud

Emfuleni Municipal Manager April Ntuli files criminal charges over a R16m fleet fraud where only 6 out of 17 paid vehicles were delivered.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 6:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

Criminal Complaint Lodged at Vanderbijlpark

In a major move to address systemic corruption within the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Municipal Manager April Ntuli filed a formal criminal complaint at the Vanderbijlpark police station on Friday. The charges target seven municipal employees and several external service providers implicated in a "ghost fleet" scandal involving approximately R16 million in irregular expenditure. The case centers on the gross mismanagement of municipal assets, specifically regarding their verification, acquisition, maintenance, and insurance.

The "Ghost Fleet" Discrepancies

The investigation into the procurement process has revealed a staggering disconnect between payments made and assets received. While the troubled municipality reportedly paid for a fleet of 17 vehicles through an approved contract, only six were ever delivered. Of those six, only two remain in the municipality's possession today. Evidence suggests that payments were authorized despite several vehicles never arriving, with at least one vehicle currently unaccounted for in any official capacity.

Evidence of Fraudulent Paperwork

Internal probes have uncovered a trail of administrative irregularities designed to mask the fraud. Investigators found signed delivery invoices for vehicles that were never physically received by the municipality. Furthermore, the audit revealed technical anomalies, including duplicate engine numbers and assets that were illegally registered to third parties. Reports also indicate that the limited equipment that was actually delivered was of such poor quality that it suffered mechanical failure shortly after being put into service.