Mosoma back at work, claims harassment
The newspaper has also seen copies of the council resolution in which the appointments of the MM for the electrification of villages was reported and condoned by the municipal council.
BURGERSFORT – After being fired by the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM), the supply-chain manager, Mr Osilias Mosoma has been reinstated in his old position. But it seems all is not well, as the manager claims he was harassed at work.
Mosoma was suspended in June 2013 along with the former CFO, Mr David Mogofe and previous municipal manager, (MM) Mr Lemon Phala for alleged fraud. The trio were fired in 2014. Phala and Mogofe allegedly settled for an undisclosed amount.
Mosoma argued he was not guilty and recently won his arbitration case that cleared him to commence his duties again.
Mosoma resumed work on April 23, accompanied by South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) members as they were afraid he might be victimised. Samwu’s chairman in Tubatse, Mr Nelson Mokgotho said there was a fight over ownership and control of strategic units/departments at the municipality and there were people who wanted to get rid of Mosoma.
According to the reports seen by Steelburger/Lydenburg News, Mosoma was fired for the appointment of consultants for the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) Projects. These were overruled by Phala in terms of the supply-chain management policy. Mosoma therefore wondered how decisions of the municipal manager affected him.
The newspaper has also seen copies of the council resolution in which the appointments of the MM for the electrification of villages was reported and condoned by the municipal council. Steelburger/Lydenburg News learnt that Mosoma was suspended and fired without a hearing. On Friday the Tubatse Samwu branch wrote a letter to GTM acting MM, Mr Mike Moja alleging that Mosoma was harassed while reporting for work.
Mokgotho alleges that a verbal instruction was given to security personnel to prevent Mosoma from entering the GTM premises.
Meanwhile the Tubatse Residents’ Association and the Ethics Association of South Africa, alleged that the GTM’s woes were fuelled by political intervention by the mayor, Mr Ralepane Mamekoa, the chief whip, Ms Queen Moeng and the speaker Mr Samson Nkosi.
Spokesman for the municipality,
Mr Thabiso Mokoena said Mosoma was back and happy at work. “Moja has welcomed him back, and I don’t know any reports about him being harassed or victimised,” he said.
