By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The City of Johannesburg has confirmed the departure of former Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Helen Botes.
The agency has been marred by allegations of corruption, maladministration, and mismanagement under her leadership.
Botes is implicated in negligence in the Usindiso shelter fire in August 2023, in which 76 people were killed.
She is also implicated by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for spending R18.6-million on dodgy companies in Covid-19 procurement criminality.
“The City wishes to confirm that Ms Helen Botes is not an employee of the City of Johannesburg or the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). Consequently, the City is not in a position to comment on matters about Ms Botes,” said the metro government in a statement.
“It is important to recognise that the City of Johannesburg is committed to transparency and accountability in all its dealings and will continue to cooperate fully with any investigations or inquiries related to this matter,” the statement added.
For over a decade, Botes was CEO of the JPC, which oversees 29,001 properties worth R10-billion. She was appointed acting chief operating officer of Johannesburg in January in unprocedural circumstances, before Tshepo Makola returned to the position.
Last week, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) started delinquent director proceedings against Botes, who has been at the centre governance scandals.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance (DA) has already opened criminal cases against Botes and senior JPC officials for violations of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), following damning findings by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Further, a culpable homicide case has been opened against Botes for the totally preventable loss of lives in the Usindiso fire.
The party has also requested the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), National Treasury, and the Presidency to intervene, apply consequence management, and ensure accountability for all her alleged wrongdoings.