The said if the evidence is provided, the party will act on the Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molemo District Municipality. Photo: Facebook
THE African National Congress (ANC) has said that if the evidence is provided, the party will act on the Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molemo District Municipality in North West following allegations of corruption amid water protests in the municipality after he canceled 12 water projects.
Speaking at a media briefing in Luthuli House last week, the ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, said that he was aware of the reports regarding the water crisis and the allegations leveled against Mayor Khumalo Molefe after he instructed fire stations to be built, raising questions about how the fire stations would work without water.
The Sunday Independent reported in November that an internal report from the Department of Water and Sanitation revealed interference in supply chain management, which caused the suspension of R87 million of the budget for 12 water intervention projects in the district.
Molefe is accused, among other things, of demanding upfront payments from service providers and using municipality resources to request funds, an allegation he refuted.
“We will wait for the evidence, but we are aware of the report in terms of the allegations made about our mayor … it is a simple process; our structure there must investigate, and if the evidence comes to anything, it must be acted upon,” Mbalula said.
According to the report, the municipality’s ongoing failure to address the water issue has also led to service providers demanding payments and threatening some officials. The lack of a contingency budget plan for unexpected expenses has created a financial strain following the cancellation of the 12 water projects.
Communities in the North West capital and surrounding areas have engaged in service delivery protests resulting from poor, slow, and unsatisfactory service delivery. Water is one of the most pressing concerns in the area.
The report accused the mayor of making unfunded commitments, leading to frustration among staff members. Staff members are held accountable for decisions made by politicians who did not consider budget constraints.
It also blamed the chief financial officer, Galaletsang Moroane, for not considering submissions from the Water Services Unit. This ultimately forced the municipal manager to make decisions without the CFO’s recommendations.
Other allegations included that reports on water submitted to Moroane were not presented as drafted to the council, alleging that they did not reflect the original submissions made by the relevant units.
The report delved into how the water unit department was being undermined. “That is why most purchase orders were not issued due to emotions flying high rather than following sound governance principles,” read the report.
The Water and Sanitation unit also stated in the report that there was hostility between the unit and the CFO, adding that other departments were treated better.
In January, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West said that Molefe had failed the people whom he swore to serve and protect.
This was after it was alleged that on numerous occasions, he used his mayoral office to solicit bribes from service providers and that he bought his wife a BMW and several cars, including a Toyota Hilux.
Sources claimed this was after service providers were called to a secret meeting with Molefe and requested to donate money. Still, Molefe denied the allegations and never revealed how he financed the vehicles.
The provincial deputy secretary of the EFF in North West, Justice Dabampe, said that there were many complaints against the mayor’s conduct, adding that a report of misconduct against Molefe was at the timetabled in council after the provincial leadership of SA National Civics Organisation (Sanco) closed the municipal offices as a protest against the mayor with the Sanco leadership in the province also calling for Molefe’s removal.
Sanco chairperson Tshepo Khoza said Molefe was “advancing his agenda” and unwilling to help the community following several delivery protests in the area. Khoza appealed to the premier to urgently step up to his role and investigate the allegations.
In November 2023, Independent Media revealed that Molefe sent an email on June 22, 2023, to a service provider requesting R20 000 to fund a private company’s logistical expenses unrelated to the municipality.
Molefe also advised the service provider to pay into an FNB Gold account owned by the NPO and contact the NPO's directors for further information regarding the logistical arrangements.
This demonstrated how Molefe contravened Section 117 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, which prohibits political interference in government procurement processes.
Act No 56 of 2003 of the Local Government Municipal Finance Management stipulates that no political structure or municipal office-bearer may set up a relief, charitable, trust, or other fund.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
Related Topics: