Cooperative governance set to intervene in Operation Mabone stalemate
The initiative was earmarked to electrify 35 communities in Tubatse. Only 26 have been connected so far, while nine communities (14 000 households) are still patiently waiting for their homes to be powered. In some villages, the electrification has been only completed more than 90 per cent.
BURGERSFORT – The portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs is the latest organisation to try and resolve the ongoing Operation Mabone battle.
Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) is entangled in a legal battle with the contractor of the Operation Mabone initiative, Lufuno Mphaphuli of Mphaphuli Consulting. The initiative came to a standstill and the contractor left all working sites.
The initiative was earmarked to electrify 35 communities in Tubatse. Only 26 have been connected so far, while nine communities (14 000 households) are still patiently waiting for their homes to be powered. In some villages, the electrification has been only completed more than 90 per cent.
The portfolio committee chairperson, Faith Muthambi, said they will have a meeting with Mphaphuli, FTLM’s mayor, Ralepane Mamekoa, and the MEC of the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu.
“The committee received correspondence from Mphaphuli Consulting claiming the submission made by FTLM during a meeting on March 17 was incorrect and non-factual. On the backdrop of this, the committee would like to have a meeting with the three parties to discuss the issue of incorrect and non-factual information and to seek a way forward on the outcome of this engagement,” said Muthambi.
The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday April 20.
While interviewed on local radio Tubatse FM on April 13, Mamekoa said Operation Mabone was their major concern.
He said the matter was sub judice. “The Operation Mabone matter is still dragging in the High Court. More light will be shed when the court finishes with this matter.”
Since Operation Mabone was stopped, many residents in the FTLM have resorted to illegal connections. In February, a 42-year-old man, Frans Motubatse, was presumed to have died by electrocution after he had allegedly tried to connect to electricity illegally in Praktiseer.
The incident happened in Shushumela Section, Extension 3. The area is one of those left incomplete by the contractor.
Most residents have lost patience with FTLM after this service delivery initiative failure. Sanco Tubatse subregion’s chairperson, Putiputi Mokgakala, blamed FTLM and Mphaphuli Consulting for the abandonment of the Operation Mabone initiative.
“We are in shock. Operation Mabone was left for too long and people are now resorting to illegal connections. We urge FTLM to ensure that proper electricity is installed in our communities to save lives,” Mokgakala had said after the death of Motubatse.
In 2017, Mphaphuli Consulting obtained a warrant of execution after the municipality failed to pay R40 million owed to the company. Mphaphuli had to attach two of the municipality’s investment accounts before it was paid.
In February 2020, Mphaphuli Consulting filed a claim of R500 million in the Polokwane High Court after the municipality had allegedly cancelled Operation Mabone.
