Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg has uncovered a R10m scam involving council employees.
One worker has already been suspended as a result of the investigation, the city said in a statement on Thursday.
More suspensions were expected. Staff in the
development planning and urban management department had apparently
taken application fees from city customers and generated fraudulent
receipts.
While city records reflected the applications as valid, with payment received, the money had in fact been illegally diverted.
The city's forensic unit is helping law enforcement in its investigations.
The department's processing systems has been changed.
"Ratepayers and customers need to be assured that this
incident will not affect the processing of their applications, unless
current investigations determine that the applicant is part of the
scam."
Investigators have been asked to verify whether the fraud could have contributed to the city's billing woes.
"Members of the public are also urged to come forward
to make statements to the commercial police branch should they know
anything about this scam."
In a separate matter two employees, a senior bylaw
public prosecutor and a metro police officer, had been arrested for
soliciting bribes, the council said.