SCOPA: Joburg leaders grilled for failing to question JDA boss arrested with R321,00 cash

Johannesburg’s top leaders faced tough questions in Parliament on Tuesday over their response to the arrest of Johannesburg Development Agency CEO Themba Mathibe, after R321,000 in cash was found at his home during a corruption investigation.

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, Deputy Mayor Loyiso Masuku and City Manager Floyd Brink faced a bruising interrogation in Parliament on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, as the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) scrutinised the City’s handling of the arrest of Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) chief executive officer Themba Mathibe.

The exchange, led by Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi, focused not on the merits of the criminal case itself, but on what the City did – or failed to do – once one of its most senior municipal executives was arrested after R321,000 in cash was discovered at his home during a January search-and-seizure operation linked to an ongoing corruption investigation.

Mathibe was arrested by the Special Task Force in January this year and granted R50,000 bail. The matter was later struck off the roll by the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court pending the completion of investigations. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has indicated it intends to re-enrol the case once outstanding processes are finalised.

Despite the arrest, Mathibe remains in his substantive role as chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Development Agency.

At the Scopa hearing, Zibi repeatedly pressed the three executives on a central question: Why did City leadership not establish the source of the cash once the arrest became public?

“The man was arrested. We know he was granted R50,000 bail. Upon establishing that he was arrested, what conversation did you have with the [JDA] board?” Zibi asked.

The deputy mayor responded that the mayoral committee had resolved that the matter was “outside his [the CEO’s] duties” and would be handled by law enforcement.

The City, she said, had initially relied on media reports and subsequently requested confirmation through formal governance channels. The committee had also discussed introducing a policy to address similar situations going forward.

“It appears the mayoral committee was trying to bury the matter. You don’t know how he came across the money. You didn’t try to find out.”

He continued: “The money was found in his house, he was arrested and released on bail – it was not just media reports. A City employee had cash and you were just not interested? Have you asked him? Have you done anything to find out?”

City Manager Floyd Brink said the Department of Group Governance