Mayor provides status of Mogale’s legal dispute with security services
Security officers were allegedly held at gunpoint and forced to strip off their uniforms – just one of many incidents in a contract dispute still unresolved.
Instead of being used for essential services, Mogale City ratepayers’ money has gone towards legal costs in a two-month-long security contract dispute.
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Municipal employees and spaces were left vulnerable during the dispute, as security workers from Wenzile Phaphama Trading and Projects, assigned to patrol these offices open to the public, were uncertain about their contract status.
The conflict began in March when employees of Wenzile were informed by representatives of Mabotwane Security Services that they were no longer required to return to their posts. Some workers alleged they were forcibly removed from municipal buildings and made to take off their uniforms at gunpoint.
In search of answers, the former employees visited Mogale City’s Public Safety offices at Town Hall on May 19. However, no clarity was given at the time.
It was only on May 26 that Executive Mayor Lucky Sele issued a formal statement confirming that neither Wenzile Phaphama nor Mabotwane are currently authorised to provide security services to the municipality. A court order had suspended both companies pending the outcome of a judicial review.
Both entities have been prohibited from rendering services,” the mayor’s statement read in part.
Despite the suspension, the municipality has yet to implement an alternative security plan or clarify how municipal buildings and their employees will be secured going forward.
The lack of action has far-reaching consequences for the public, particularly those who continue to pay municipal rates in good faith.
According to the Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act, South African municipalities are entitled to collect rates and taxes from residents even when service delivery is disrupted. While the Constitution guarantees access to basic services, it does not offer automatic relief from payment in cases of non-delivery, meaning residents remain legally obligated to pay, regardless of performance or disputes within the municipality.
Municipal funds collected from residents are intended to cover services such as infrastructure, waste removal, and security. In the case of Mogale City, some of those funds have now been redirected toward legal proceedings, while the security needs of municipal properties and their employees remain unresolved.
The Krugersdorp News approached Mogale City Local Municipality for comment, asking why it took two months to reach a legal turning point and how much public funding was spent on legal fees. The municipality was also asked to respond to allegations that security workers were threatened at gunpoint and forced to remove their uniforms.
At the time of publication, the municipality had not responded. Their feedback will be published once received.
In the meantime, Mogale City’s ratepayers remain legally bound to fulfil their financial obligations, despite uncertainty around the services they are paying for.
