A local councillor and his wife have been implicated in a widening corruption probe linked to the massive R29 billion upgrade of the N3 highway, one of South Africa’s most critical transport corridors.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has confirmed that it is actively investigating allegations of misconduct involving the councillor and his spouse, who allegedly abused their positions for personal enrichment through the multibillion-rand project.
Councillor Removed Amid Allegations
The councillor, whose name has not yet been officially released, has since been removed by the Msunduzi Municipality from the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) — a community engagement body meant to ensure transparency, accountability, and local participation in the upgrade process.
“In light of the allegations, the councillor has been temporarily relieved of all duties related to the project,” said a municipal spokesperson. “We are cooperating fully with Sanral to uphold integrity and public trust.”
R29 Billion Project in the Spotlight
The N3 highway upgrade — which spans key economic hubs from Durban to Johannesburg — is South Africa’s largest road infrastructure development to date. It’s intended to boost trade, improve transport safety, and create thousands of jobs.
However, the recent corruption claims have cast a shadow over the project’s transparency and governance, prompting Sanral to tighten oversight measures and audit contractor-community relations.
A Broader Pattern?
This scandal adds to growing concerns about corruption in public infrastructure tenders, particularly at municipal levels. Civil society watchdogs are calling for independent oversight, stronger anti-corruption enforcement, and public access to tender processes.
“When billions are at stake, communities deserve full accountability — not backroom deals,” said an infrastructure transparency advocate.
Investigation Ongoing
Sanral has assured the public that any wrongdoing will be met with swift consequences and legal action if warranted. The councillor and his wife have not been formally charged and are presumed innocent pending the outcome of the investigation.
