The Office of the Speaker of Council in the City of Joburg confirms that a formal letter was issued on 11 August 2025 to Adv. Pule Seleka SC, Chairperson of the Special and Independent Investigation Committee (SIIC), revoking the correspondence sent to him on 30 April 2025 by the former Speaker of Council, Cllr. Nobuhle Mthembu.

Adv. Pule Seleka was appointed in April 2024 to investigate allegations of corruption by officials of the Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS) as per the resolution of the 13th Ordinary Council Meeting.

The previous letter had purported to suspend the work of the SIIC. Cllr Margaret Arnolds, upon review and consultation, found that such a suspension could only be effected by a resolution of Council, as the body that established the Committee.

The earlier suspension was therefore neither procedurally nor legally valid.

In the letter of 11 August 2025, the Speaker of Council, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, directed that the work of the SIIC – as per the Council resolution and terms of reference – resume with immediate effect and proceed to conclusion in line with its original mandate. The Speaker understands that GFIS remains important in rooting out corruption and maladministration and therefore encouraged the Committee to expedite the issuing of its investigation report, whether in part or in full.

Cllr Margaret Arnolds stated: “The integrity of our governance processes depends on independent committees such as the SIIC being able to work without interference. This Office is committed to ensuring that the Committee completes its work in full, so that Council and the residents of Johannesburg can have the transparency and accountability they deserve”.

The Office of the Speaker remains firmly committed to ensuring that the SIIC is able to complete its important work without undue interference, in the interest of accountability, transparency, and good governance in the City of Johannesburg.

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