eThekwini Municipal Worker Nabbed for Diesel Theft at His Hammarsdale Home

A City of eThekwini truck driver was caught siphoning diesel from a municipal water tanker 

City Integrity Unit Flags Escalating Diesel Theft Within eThekwini Workforce

A municipal truck driver employed by the City of eThekwini has been caught red-handed siphoning diesel from a government water tanker at his residence in Hammarsdale a scheme he allegedly ran for over three months.

The arrest followed a tip-off from community members who noticed unusual activity at the man’s home, where municipal vehicles were frequently seen offloading fuel into containers. Acting on the information, the City’s Integrity and Investigations Unit launched a probe and placed the suspect under surveillance.

According to city officials, investigators recovered twelve 25-litre containers filled with diesel, totaling approximately 300 litres. The driver, who has not been named pending court proceedings, confessed to stealing fuel for an extended period and admitted to selling it illegally.

A second employee, believed to have aided in the operation, was also apprehended during the raid. Both individuals were charged with theft and processed at the Inanda Police Station. They are expected to appear in court later this month.

The City’s Integrity Directorate, which oversees misconduct and corruption within municipal operations, confirmed that this arrest is part of a broader crackdown on internal fraud. In the current financial year alone, the directorate has investigated over 300 cases, ranging from fuel theft to equipment misuse and tender fraud.

Jimmy Ngcobo, head of the unit, said diesel theft has become a recurring issue in the municipality’s service departments. “This kind of behaviour not only drains public resources but also damages public trust,” he said. “We rely on whistle-blowers and vigilant community members to expose these acts of wrongdoing.”

The municipality has urged residents to report any suspicious activity involving city resources through its confidential hotline: 0800 20 20 20 or via email at ombuds@durban.gov.za