DA calls for deputy mayor's removal amid corruption claims
A newly launched Special Investigation Unit probe into Tshwane's massive water tanker expenditure has ignited a fierce political battle between the DA and ActionSA, with both parties trading accusations over who bears responsibility for the ballooning costs.
The DA's mayoral candidate in Tshwane, Cilliers Brink, welcomed the investigation into the R777 million the metro spent on water tankers during the 2024-25 financial year, arguing it could lay bare a network of corrupt dealings he described as a "water tanker mafia" operating within the city.
Brink pointed to media reports alleging that firms connected to prominent ANC figures pocketed millions from tanker contracts. He singled out Eugene Modise, the ANC's deputy mayor of Tshwane, as a central figure in the controversy.
"The seriousness of this case particularly involves Eugene Modise, the ANC's deputy mayor of Tshwane, who received R31.7 million in water tanker contracts, despite the fact that he does not even own a single water tanker."
According to Brink, spending on water tankers surged dramatically once the DA lost control of the metro's administration. He noted that in June 2024, the DA-led government had scrapped a water tanker tender before it could be finalised after uncovering significant irregularities. However, he claimed that once the ANC assumed power with ActionSA's backing, certain invoices were settled despite no evidence that the tankers had actually delivered any services.
"The result was an astonishing 455% increase in expenditure on water tankers in a single financial year."
Brink also called on Tshwane mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya to use her executive authority to strip Modise of his position as mayoral committee member for finance, demanding his immediate removal.
ActionSA hits back, disputes spending figures
ActionSA firmly rejected the DA's characterisation of events, labelling the claims as misleading and insisting that the controversial contracts were in fact awarded while Brink himself served as mayor. The party maintained that water tankers remain a necessity because successive administrations, the DA's included, had for years failed to guarantee communities across the city access to clean, safe drinking water.
The party also challenged the R777 million figure, contending that it encompasses R179 million in outstanding invoices from the previous financial year that were incurred during Brink's time in office but only settled in 2024-25.
"The article failed to mention that R179 million paid in the 2024-25 financial year relates to unpaid invoices incurred in the previous financial year during Brink's mayoralty."
ActionSA added that the current administration is actively working to cut its reliance on private water tankers by procuring the city's own fleet of vehicles, a move expected to deliver savings of approximately R12 million each month.
Despite the sharp disagreements, ActionSA indicated it supports the broader investigation into what it described as a water tanker mafia that has gained a particular foothold across Gauteng municipalities. The DA, meanwhile, confirmed it would push for a formal council debate on the tanker expenditure at Tshwane's next sitting.
South Africans face direct consequences when hundreds of millions in municipal funds are directed to water tanker contracts rather than permanent infrastructure, as prolonged reliance on emergency water delivery signals deeper failures in service provision affecting households and businesses across Tshwane. The SIU investigation could establish accountability and deter similar patterns in other Gauteng municipalities, while efforts to build a city-owned tanker fleet may reduce costs if implemented effectively, though sustained political friction risks delaying meaningful reforms.
