Court Clears Ekurhuleni CIO Disciplinary Action

Suspense Ekurhuleni IT boss, Moloko Monyepao Picture: Supplied

The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed an urgent application by suspended City of Ekurhuleni Chief Information Officer Moloko Monyepao to halt disciplinary proceedings against him, paving the way for the long-delayed inquiry to proceed.

Monyepao had sought an interim interdict to stop the disciplinary hearing pending the outcome of a review application. He argued that the municipality’s process was procedurally flawed and unlawful, and that continuing with the hearing would cause him irreparable harm.

Judge Leonie Windell rejected his application, noting that the urgency was self-created.

“The chronology, the unexplained delay, and the applicant’s conduct in repeatedly postponing the disciplinary process all point to self-created urgency,” she said.

The court also found that Monyepao’s primary concern appeared to be legal costs rather than genuine prejudice. He was ordered to pay the city’s legal costs.

The disciplinary inquiry follows allegations that failures in the oversight of Ekurhuleni’s billing system allowed the manipulation of approximately 1 600 accounts from July 2023, resulting in a reported R2-billion revenue shortfall. Affected account holders were later asked to repay undercharged amounts.