The Save South Africa Civic Movement (SSACM) in the North West has hailed the Section 106 investigation against the embattled Madibeng Local Municipality.

The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, invoked Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act to investigate allegations of maladministration and misconduct at the municipality.

The municipality has been embroiled in a series of corruption-related scandals, including the arrest of Madibeng municipal manager Morufa Moloto and her partner, Letladi Emmanuel Ramoroka, who appeared in court over corruption charges last year.

Due to corruption within the municipality, Molapisi has appointed a law firm to conduct an investigation, which will address several key issues. 

The terms of reference of this investigation include duplicate payment of service providers,  irregular appointment of security contractors, failures by the municipality to adhere to grant expenditure, as well as failure to convene statutory sittings and irregular appointment of municipal officials and service providers, as well as the council’s failure to hold statutory meetings as mandated by legislation and council rules of order.

Speaking on behalf of the movement, Sydney Mamokgotla welcomed the news, saying: “SSACM welcomes the decision by the MEC of CoGHSTA in the North West to invoke Section 106 (Municipal Systems Act) investigation in Madibeng Local Municipality.

“MEC GO Molapisi has introduced the investigating team, which will begin work immediately. As the movement, we have been raising concerns and complaints about the state of Madibeng Local Municipality, since there have been allegations of corruption and maladministration.”

As a result of endemic corruption within the municipality, Mamokgotla stated that service delivery and clean governance have collapsed, leaving residents unable to enjoy their basic human rights.

“The municipality is incapable of providing quality basic services to its communities, but there have been budgets allocated. In many instances, people steal money, and there have never been consequences. The investigation was necessary to root out all the malpractices that have taken place in the municipality.

“Among the terms of reference for the investigation are the duplicate payments of service providers by municipal officials, the unlawful changing of all bulk accounts on the system of the municipality, the irregular appointment of companies, and the irregular appointment of employees,” he added.

The investigation, set to be concluded in three months, has been established based on a directive from the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa.

On Wednesday, Molapisi, accompanied by the Head of the Department, Dr Ben Bole, urged the Madibeng Local Municipality councillors to support the investigation to ensure its success.

“The allegations are serious, and we expect councillors and officials of the municipality to cooperate and assist in providing the necessary information that will assist the investigation,” Molapisi said during a council sitting. 

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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