Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Finance MMC Nkululeko Dunga was in a luxury vehicle when it was involved in a fatal accident.

The vehicle, allegedly fitted with blue lights, is owned by a businessman who has scored a string of contracts with the City of Ekurhuleni.

News24 can reveal that the luxury Mercedes Benz V Class is owned by Motlatsi Thomas Moloi, whose companies do business with the municipality.

The African National Congress (ANC) contends that the vehicle, which formed part of Dunga's convoy during a pile-up on the R21, near Pomona Road, last month, was illegally fitted with blue lights, but the EFF has rubbished the claim.

The incident, however, casts a shadow over Dunga's probity, with the City refusing to answer questions as to how long he enjoyed the use of Moloi's luxury car, and whether he declared the use of it as a benefit.

After News24 asked the metro questions about Dunga's use of the car, and how much Moloi's raft of companies had made from contracts, the City announced that the relationship with the businessman had been paused while an investigation played out.

Long-term contracts

News24 confirmed the Mercedes was registered to Moloi at the time of the accident, and had been driven by a metro police officer who was part of Dunga's protection detail.

The 22 October accident resulted in the Mercedes Benz and an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) vehicle colliding with a stationary car. A motorcyclist travelling in the same direction, then apparently ploughed into the snarl-up.

According to publicly available records, companies controlled by Moloi raked in long-term contracts from the municipality, ranging from air conditioner installation to the provision of personal protective equipment.

Data from the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission indicate that Moloi is the sole director of Ke Ba Bang and Kitila General Trading.

According to the municipality's website, the companies were awarded the following contracts:

• The appointment of service providers for the supply, installation and maintenance of wall and ceiling-mounted air conditioning equipment for all City of Ekurhuleni facilities, on an as-and-when-required basis, from the date of award until 30 June 2026;
• Appointment of contractors for installation, repair, maintenance and ancillary work on water network for both south-west and north-east districts, on an as-and-when-required basis, from date of award until 30 June 2026; and
• The supply, delivery and off-loading of personal protective equipment and clothing for the energy department, on an as-and-when-required basis, from the date of award until 30 June 2026.

In a statement in the wake of the accident, the ANC in Ekurhuleni claimed it had sought answers from Dunga "to satisfy themselves that all the security provisions to Dunga was above board".

This was because the party's spokesperson, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, said Dunga's protector was driving the MMC in a vehicle that did not belong to the City.

"Is the EMPD protector permitted to drive an MMC in a car not registered under his name, having noted that the car belongs to another person? Why was the private car fitted with blue lights?" asked Dlabathi.

The City's spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini, confirmed that Moloi's companies were awarded the contracts during Dunga's tenure as Finance MMC, and had also previously done business with the City.

"The [three] contracts were indeed awarded in Dunga's current tenure. There is no expenditure attached to the three contracts," Dlamini said.

He would not be drawn to comment on what the value of the contracts was, and how much Moloi's companies had been paid.

The City also undertook to probe allegations of a conflict of interest between Moloi and Dunga.

Dlamini said, "We will suspend any work allocation for Moloi while we investigate the conflict of interest. We don't want to entertain personal matters. Dunga will have to answer for how he found himself in Moloi's car. We also want to find out how they had the blue lights fitted into Moloi's vehicle."

Moloi declined to answer questions about a possible conflict of interest with Dunga.

"I'm aware there's an investigation regarding the accident and, since the matter is sub judice, I will respond to authorities if needs be," Moloi said.