Cape Town City Manager’s Rejection of R1.4 Million Bribe Leads to Arrest

Cape Town, South Africa – A service provider for the City of Cape Town was arrested on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, after attempting to bribe a senior municipal official with R1.4 million (approximately $74,000 USD). The arrest, made during an undercover operation at Watercrest Mall in Somerset West, is the result of an ongoing investigation into tender fraud and corruption within the City of Cape Town Municipality.

Undercover Operation and Arrest

According to Brigadier Novela Potelwa, spokesperson for the provincial police, the senior municipal officer rejected the bribe and immediately alerted police detectives. This led to an undercover operation culminating in the suspect’s arrest and the seizure of the R1.4 million, a vehicle, and a cellphone (IOL).

Investigation Origins

The investigation was initiated in March 2025 following a whistleblower report alleging collusion between municipal employees and service providers in tender fraud and corruption (IOL). The City of Cape Town’s ethics and forensic services partnered with the SAPS Commercial Crime Investigation unit to conduct an extensive probe.

Details of the Bribe Attempt

In February 2026, the owner of a company contracted to the municipality for maintenance work allegedly requested the senior municipal official – identified as City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo (Smile FM) – to halt internal investigations in exchange for a multimillion-rand payment. Mbandazayo acted as an agent during the undercover operation (Smile FM).

Official Response and Future Actions

The 51-year-old suspect is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, March 5, facing corruption charges (IOL). Police have indicated that further arrests are anticipated as the investigation progresses (IOL).

Mayor Geordin Hill Lewis praised Mbandazayo’s actions, stating the city is committed to clean governance and has a “zero tolerance approach to those seeking illicit benefit” (Smile FM).

Reporting Corruption

Members of the public are encouraged to report corruption on the National Anti-Corruption hotline at 0800 701 701 (IOL).