The mayor of Ubuntu Local Municipality, Cheryl Jantjies, appeared in the Richmond Magistrate’s Court on 3 July 2026, facing 28 counts related to the irregular handling of municipal pension funds. The charges encompass suspected contraventions of Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956 and the Municipal Finance Management Act, following an investigation into financial mismanagement between February 2020 and September 2025.
Investigation And Legal Proceedings
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks, the investigation determined that workers’ contributions were withheld or delayed during the specified five-year period. Municipal manager Synthia Levona Itumeleng and Chief Financial Officer Randile Jacobs Shuping were previously arrested in May 2026 in connection with the same contraventions.
It is alleged that during the period February 2020 and September 2025, the municipal manager, Ms Synthia Levona Itumeleng, 45, and the chief financial officer, Mr Randile Jacobs Shuping, in the performance of their duties, withheld/delayed payments of municipal workers’ contributions to third parties, which included payments to the Consolidated Retirement Pension Fund.
Jantjies was granted R2,000 bail following her appearance and is expected to return to court on 20 August 2026 to join her co-accused in the proceedings. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe noted that the mayor held a critical oversight role during the period in question.
During the raid period, Jantjies served as a mayor where she had a role to oversee the running of the municipality to ensure that the municipality did not fall short of its financial obligations.
Community Impact And Financial Context
The failure to remit statutory deductions to pension funds has significant consequences for public sector employees, often resulting in financial prejudice for retirees and families relying on these benefits. While historical municipal debt linked to these withheld payments reportedly exceeded R200,000, current reports indicate that the outstanding amount has been reduced to just under R100,000.
This case is reflective of a wider national trend of scrutiny into municipal financial accountability, where the non-payment of third-party contributions is increasingly treated as a serious breach of statutory duty. The upcoming 20 August 2026 court appearance will serve as the next phase in the legal process as the state gathers evidence regarding the mismanagement of municipal resources.