The hung council of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality is divided over the suspension of the municipal manager.

Some parties in the Limpopo council voted to place the municipal manager, Ntoampie Thobela, on suspension on allegations of corruption and mal-administration.

The council believes Thobela acted against its mandate, when he borrowed R35 million from a service provider to pay municipal debts, instead of the approved R21 million.

The money borrowed from a service provider was repaid with interests.

Thobela, who has been at the helm of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Local Municipality for nearly three years, was mandated by the council to seek a loan to pay Eskom debts, last year.

The council approved for the municipality to enter into a R21 million short term loan. However, Thobela decide to borrow R35 million from a service provider.

Thobela borrowed money from a contracted service provider, doing revenue collection for the municipality.

South Africa’s Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke has identified the loan as non-compliant, saying the loan resulted in irregular expenditure.

The African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) voted together to suspend Thobela.

ANC regional executive member in the Waterberg region, David Langa says the loan was from an unaccredited service provider.

“He solicited a loan beyond the authorised amount. That loan was solicited from uncredited service provider. In our view, that is a procurement irregularity. We cannot fail to deal with misconduct, serious allegations levelled against anybody, primarily because there is a conference,” says Langa.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), on the other hand, voted against Thobela’s suspension.

DA councillor, Dingaan Motshwene says the suspension of the municipal manager will have financial implications.

“There are some political squabbles between among the ANC councillors. So, there are those who want to put the MM aside for their own reason. That acting municipal manager will get the full package like that one who is being put on precautionary leave. So, there are going to be some financial implications at the end of the day and of the decision is being challenged in court, and (if) we lose that case in court, it means the municipality is also incurrs financial implications (sic),” says Motshwene.

In a similar situation, at Mogalakwena Local Municipality, also in Limpopo, two senior managers have received notice of intention to suspend them on allegations of fraud and insubordination.

The manager for Planning and Development Services, Charity Radipabe and manager for Corporate Services, Maite Moakamela have until Friday the 5th of June to indicate why they must not be suspended.

Accordingly, the two questioned the sale of municipal land and legal costs for various court cases at the municipality.

African People’s Convention’s councillor, Jerry Mogotle and the DA councillor, Daily Mphago says the two managers are being targeted for fighting corruption.

“Those managers refused sign the unlawful sale of land, which was rejected of course by the council on the 26th of November 2024 and they further refused to sign for the inflated legal costs. In our view, that is their sin. There is nothing wrong with it. We have the intention of actually engaging the MEC of COGHSTA so that he intervenes. Due processes is actually followed as per the Municipal System Act,” says Mogotle.

Modimolle-Mookgopong Municipality Mayor, Sechele Sebolai refused to comment on the matter and Mayor Ngoako Taueatsoala of Mogalakwena did not respond to requests for comment.