Just a few weeks into his time as Nelson Mandela Bay’s acting city manager, it has emerged that Sidima Dyani allegedly provided false information to the city to have his salary increased to R2 million a year.

Dyani was appointed as the municipality’s chief operating officer (COO) in April this year, and in October he was asked to act as city manager after Noxolo Nqwazi’s suspension due to fraud allegations.

Now it appears that he, too, may have been tainted with fraud and misrepresentation allegations.

Former EFF regional chairperson Ngawethu Madaka has opened a case of fraud against Dyani.

Madaka alleges that Dyani misrepresented himself when he applied for the COO position by claiming he was still employed by the City of Johannesburg’s Pikitup when he resigned in August 2022.

“It is well-known that Mr Dyani was unemployed at the time of accepting the appointment offer in the metro and therefore his claim was fatally flawed and irregular though he attached two of his payslips to demonstrate his claim,” Madaka said.

Once he was employed by the metro, Dyani wrote a letter to then-city manager Nqwazi in April, stating that his salary at Pikitup was above what was offered by the Bay municipality.

He then submitted two payslips from his former firm dated March 2022 and July 2022.

Dyani’s letter and payslips were taken to the remuneration committee of the council on 31 May to motivate a 22% salary increase, which was approved.

Responding to the allegations, Dyan said his right to privacy had been violated in the way that Madaka obtained his payslips for submission to the police.

“There are strict protocols in terms of the Popia in how such information can be obtained and I know there was no application for access to my documents. My right in terms of the Popia has been violated,” Dyani said.

Dyani said he left Pikitup in April 2023.

However, Pikitup spokesperson Muzi Mkhwanazi said Dyani resigned on 11 August 2022.

“Mr Christopher Sidima Dyani was seconded by the City of Johannesburg to Pikitup as acting managing director for four months until 30 November 2019. Thereafter, he was appointed as chief operations officer at Pikitup from December 2019 until August 2022,” Mkhwanazi said.

Police spokesperson André Beetge has confirmed that a case of fraud is being investigated by the Hawks’ Directorate for Priority Crimes.

“I’m in no position to divulge any more information because the case is being handled by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation,” Beetge said.