Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) CEO Helen Botes is once again under legal fire — this time facing a culpable homicide charge laid by the Democratic Alliance (DA), intensifying public demands for accountability in city leadership.
The DA announced that it had opened a case against Botes following what it calls a “gross failure of leadership” that allegedly contributed to the conditions leading to a tragic and preventable death. While full details of the incident are yet to emerge, party officials have accused Botes of “negligence at the highest level”, citing systemic mismanagement and disregard for safety protocols.
“This isn’t just about poor administration anymore — lives are being lost,” said a DA representative. “We can no longer allow a culture of impunity to define Johannesburg’s public institutions.”
Helen Botes, who has faced multiple controversies during her tenure at the JPC, now finds herself at the center of a potentially explosive legal and political battle. The company, responsible for managing billions in public property assets, has been repeatedly criticized for mismanagement, irregular contracts, and questionable tenders.
This latest charge, however, pushes the matter far beyond financial missteps.
The DA is calling for urgent intervention by both the City of Johannesburg and law enforcement, insisting that Botes be suspended while investigations proceed.
As the case unfolds, pressure is mounting on city officials to address the broader issue of leadership accountability in Johannesburg’s governance structures.
Neither Botes nor the JPC has released an official statement as of publication.
