The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called for an urgent independent investigation into allegations that municipal employment opportunities, infrastructure and other public resources in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality were used for political purposes ahead of the local government elections.
The ATM has lodged a formal complaint with Buffalo City council Speaker Humphrey Maxhegwana, asking the municipality to investigate alleged political interference in the allocation of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and other publicly funded employment opportunities across all 50 wards.
The complaint, dated 5 October 2026, names several ANC-linked individuals and municipal office-bearers whose alleged involvement the ATM wants investigated, including Executive Mayor Princess Faku, Ward 39 ANC candidate Odwa Sheshegu, ANC Ward 39 branch secretary Siya Mpetsheni, Ward 22 candidate Sandile Mqwashini and Ward 23 councillor Simbongile Sydwell Gulwa.
The ATM stressed that the allegations against the individuals and the names contained in community-supplied beneficiary lists must be verified against official municipal records and should not be treated as established wrongdoing.
The party claims it has received information from communities across several wards alleging that ANC political influence may have been used in the distribution or facilitation of publicly funded employment opportunities.
It wants the municipality to establish who identified or recommended beneficiaries, who controlled beneficiary lists, who approved appointments, which programmes and budgets funded the positions, when appointments were made and whether political affiliation or support played any role.
The complaint specifically calls for scrutiny of appointments and deployments made during September 2026.
According to the ATM, a municipal directive dated 13 August required affected EPWP contracts, activities and participant deployments to cease by 31 August pending review and approval processes.
The party wants the municipality to establish which programmes were affected by the directive and whether appointments or deployments made after 31 August were lawfully authorised.
The ATM has also raised specific allegations involving Ward 39, Ward 22 and Ward 23.
In Ward 39, it wants the roles of Sheshegu and Mpetsheni examined in relation to the collection and communication of beneficiary details and subsequent employment of residents.
The party said sitting Ward 39 councillor Lunga Gqola told it that he was not involved in allocating the jobs and did not know how the opportunities were being distributed.
The ATM said this raised questions about who controlled the process and under whose authority.
In Ward 22, the party wants an investigation into allegations that ANC candidate Mqwashini became involved in facilitating employment opportunities despite not being the sitting councillor.
The sitting councillor is identified in the complaint as Sabelo Booi.
The ATM also alleges that approximately 200 employment opportunities were associated with Ward 23 and wants the role of councillor Gulwa investigated, including alleged opportunities extending into Ward 22.
It wants the municipality to disclose the programme and budget involved, the number of positions, appointment authority, beneficiary-selection process and communications involving Gulwa.
The party has further raised concerns about municipal water infrastructure, specifically the movement of a municipal water tank to Ngxwalane Extension.
It wants the municipality to establish the tank’s original location, destination, deployment instructions, work orders, vehicle records and the reasons for its relocation.
The complaint also contains an additional allegation involving Mayor Faku and a municipal vehicle.
The ATM alleges that on 3 October, during a visit by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina to Slimela VD in eMalambeni, a branded municipal vehicle bearing registration HYR 479 EC was used in circumstances where party-political activity or interests were allegedly being advanced.
The ATM wants the vehicle’s logbook, trip authority, fuel records, driver details, GPS information and official purpose for the journey examined.
It also wants Faku to be given an opportunity to respond to the allegation and provide any authorisation for the vehicle’s use.
The party said the presence of Majodina was included as part of the factual context and that its municipal complaint was directed at Faku.
The ATM has called for the immediate preservation of municipal employment, EPWP, payroll, financial, communication, vehicle and infrastructure records.
It wants beneficiary lists supplied by community members to be cross-checked against official records to establish the recruitment process, authorising officials, selection criteria and payment sources.
The party said any evidence pointing to electoral-code violations, financial misconduct, corruption or criminal conduct should be referred to the relevant authorities.
“The ATM does not ask the Speaker to presume guilt. It asks the Speaker to establish the facts through records, witnesses, lawful investigation and accountable municipal processes,” the complaint states.
The ATM has also asked the Speaker to provide written acknowledgement of the complaint, a reference number and details of the process and timeframes that will be followed.