An investigation by the City Integrity and Investigations Directorate within the eThekwini municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has recommended that a top official be hauled over the coals for allegedly making unwanted sexual advances to a subordinate even after he was politely told by his victim to stop.

The report was compiled and submitted to the City Manager, Musa Mbhele, and others last month (11 November 2025) and were directed to act.

The fingered official is Lungisa Msiya, a senior manager for expenditure management within the municipality. His accuser cannot be named to prevent subjecting her to secondary trauma.

According to the report, Msiya started making the unwanted advances against his victim in 2022 and the victim was very clear that she was there to work.

Despite that, Msiya, according to the report, called his victim to his office and asked her to be his girlfriend. At some point, Msiya called the victim over the weekends and told her that he had booked a hotel for them in Umhlanga and she must come through.

In one bizarre incident, Msiya is said to have shown his victim a sealed pack of condoms and asked her when are they going to use them.

“She (the victim) was very traumatized by this,” reads the report.

After that incident, the traumatised victim reached out to a senior accountant in the department for help, but the accountant could not help as he feared that Msiya would victimize her as well.

Left defenceless, the victim decided to play along to also avoid being victimized by Msiya whom staff told investigators that he was abusive towards them.

During the investigation, investigators were able to obtain text messages and myspace messages where Msiya persisted with going after the victim.

Furthermore, witnesses were able to collaborate the version of the victim and in a collective testimony which was submitted anonymously, staff members said Msiya is known for sleeping with staff members and some of his victims were harassed during working hours.

When Msiya was interviewed by investigators, he could not deny the allegation and gave a hypothetical answer when he was asked about the hotel bookings, condoms and text messages.

The investigators concluded that Msiya’s conduct amounts to sexual harrasment and he should be immediately hauled over the coals.

When the municipality was asked why it has not acted against Msiya, its spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said such matters are not discussed with third parties.

“As a matter of principle, and in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000) and the Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers (2010), the Municipality does not disclose details of internal disciplinary processes to third parties, including the media.

“This approach ensures compliance with legal requirements governing confidentiality and procedural fairness and applies irrespective of the nature or credibility of the allegations,” Sisilana said.