Dipuo Peters, who currently serves as Speaker of the Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley, has been compelled to pay nearly R193 000 in legal costs after the Sheriff of the High Court arrived at her residence on Monday 13 April to enforce a writ of execution.
The former ANC Member of Parliament, who now holds the municipal speaker position, faced the enforcement action stemming from her unsuccessful court challenge of a parliamentary suspension related to state capture allegations during her tenure as transport minister.
Between 2013 and 2017, whilst serving as transport minister, Peters was accused of multiple breaches at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). These allegations included dismissing the board chaired by Popo Molefe after it exposed R14 billion in irregular expenditure, authorising the use of PRASA buses for ANC events without payment, and failing to appoint a chief executive when required.
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Six MPs accused of facilitating PRASA’s collapse
The commuter activist movement #UniteBehind filed official complaints with Parliament in late 2022 against six ANC MPs, including Peters, accusing them of facilitating PRASA’s collapse. When Parliament’s ethics committee failed to act on these complaints, #UniteBehind pursued court action in April 2023.
Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests subsequently found in October 2023 that Peters had indeed breached the Code of Conduct. She received a sanction and was suspended for one parliamentary term.
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The current municipal speaker challenged this decision through an urgent high court application filed in January 2024, denying any wrongdoing and arguing that her suspension was both irrational and unconstitutional. However, her application was dismissed, and she was ordered to pay the legal costs of both #UniteBehind and the Speaker of the National Assembly, who had opposed her application.
Despite the court order, Peters failed to make payment. #UniteBehind’s attorney informed GroundUp that a letter of demand was sent on 12 February 2025, and repeated attempts to contact Peters and her legal representatives proved unsuccessful.
Outstanding payment enforced by writ of execution
When payment remained outstanding, a writ of execution was issued on 15 December 2025. The sheriff arrived at Peters’ Kimberley home on Monday to enforce the order.
Documentation seen by GroundUp indicated that her Mazda CX-5 was identified for recovery of the legal costs. According to #UniteBehind’s attorneys, following a three-hour negotiation with the sheriff at her premises, the Sol Plaatje Municipality speaker agreed to pay the full amount owed.
The organisation’s lawyers confirmed that the debt totalled R167 634.93, plus interest, bringing the final payment to R192 781. With the debt settled, the vehicle was not formally attached and the matter was resolved.
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In a statement released on Tuesday, #UniteBehind described the amount Peters paid as “small compared to her crimes” and pledged to continue pursuing accountability for “the main culprits in the destruction of PRASA”.
GroundUp has contacted Peters’ attorneys via email for comment. Their response will be included once received, GroundUp stated.
Source: GroundUp
