Tracing Edwin Sodi

Statement by Ald Cilliers Brink – DA Tshwane Mayoral Candidate:

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally instructed our legal team to appoint a professional tracing agent to locate Edwin Sodi and to submit his details directly to the City of Tshwane and National Treasury.

The ANC-led coalition governing Tshwane has now run out of excuses for why a completed application to blacklist Sodi and his associates has not been submitted to National Treasury. Despite repeated assurances and ample opportunity, the coalition has failed to act decisively.

If successful, the blacklisting application would prevent Sodi and Blackhead Consulting from doing business with the state – a necessary step to protect communities such as Hammanskraal from further harm.

Edwin Sodi is a high-profile, corruption-accused businessman whose companies benefited from lucrative state contracts and whose name featured prominently before the Zondo Commission. The City of Tshwane has long had sufficient grounds to proceed with blacklisting and could have taken reasonable steps to ensure the process was finalised.

A recent Sunday Times report revealed that the City claims it has been unable to locate Sodi. According to the Mayor’s spokesperson, Mayor Nasiphi Moya appears indifferent to this failure. Yet the same report demonstrated that a journalist was able to locate Sodi with a single WhatsApp message.

These explanations increasingly resemble deliberate obstruction. The City could have instructed a tracing agent, published a notice in the media, or proceeded with lawful service in Sodi’s absence. Instead, delay after delay has served only to protect Sodi and the ANC’s patronage networks.

Blacklisting Sodi is not optional. It is essential to accountability for the people of Hammanskraal. This is precisely why the DA-led coalition in Tshwane initiated the blacklisting process in 2023.

However, since ActionSA handed control of the City to the ANC in 2024, the blacklisting process has stalled.

In May 2025, the DA received written confirmation from the Tshwane City Manager that the blacklisting process was well advanced. By September 2025, the City was offering excuses to a parliamentary committee as to why the application had still not been submitted to National Treasury.

The ANC-led coalition governing Tshwane has now run out of excuses for why a completed application to blacklist Sodi and his associates has not been submitted to National Treasury. Despite repeated assurances and ample opportunity, the coalition has failed to act decisively.

To break this deadlock, the DA will act decisively. We have instructed a tracing agent to locate Sodi and will submit the relevant information to both Tshwane and National Treasury. We will also insist that the City publish the blacklisting notice publicly to uphold transparency and due process.

The DA remains resolute in defending accountability, protecting communities, and rooting out corruption wherever it occurs. We will not allow personal interests or political alliances to be placed above justice for the people of Tshwane.