FGTM removes three villages from Operation Mabone
The contract for the three areas was worth about R95 million. Mphaphuli indicated that Mohlala told him to obtain the information through the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). "I'm not a third party to be asked to use PAIA to get information. The council's decision is irrational. How do you cancel a contract without discussing or notifying the service provider?" Mphaphuli said.
BURGERSFORT – The Fetakgomo Greater Tubatse Municipality (FGTM) has allegedly changed the contract of the Operation Mabone initiative by removing three villages from the addendum.
Mashifane Park, Bothashoek and Tswelopele Park were allegedly withdrawn from the operation by the municipality because of a lack of funds, and it accused the contractor, Mr Lufuno Mphaphuli, of poor performance.
According to Mphaphuli, Mr Johannes Mohlala, FGTM’s municpal manager (MM), has refused to provide him with a copy of the council resolution that supposedly endorsed the amendment of the contract.
A report released by City Press indicated that Mohlala was allegedly seeking to cancel Mphaphuli’s contract because it was awarded before his term. Mphaphuli said the MM refused to give him a copy of the council resolution which authorises the cancellation of the electrification project in the villages.
The contract for the three areas was worth about R95 million. Mphaphuli indicated that Mohlala told him to obtain the information through the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). “I’m not a third party to be asked to use PAIA to get information. The council’s decision is irrational. How do you cancel a contract without discussing or notifying the service provider?” Mphaphuli said.
He has threatened to challenge the municipality in court again. Mohlala has allegedly made several blunders in his tenure. He reportedly appointed two companies to design and install 40 high-mast lights, which was a job worth R14 million. Mohlala appointed Volt Consulting Engineers without following procurement procedures while his predecessor,
Ms Adelaide Monyepao, had already appointed Bawelile Consulting. He paid R8,5 million to Volt Consulting Engineering before any work had been done. Mohlala also appointed an acting technical director who did not have the required qualifications in defiance of the recommendations by the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.
Steelburger/Lydenburg News previously published an article in which Mohlala allegedly spent a whopping R370 000 of ratepayers’ money for private bodyguards.
This publication was unsuccessful in getting a comment from the spokesman for FGTM, Mr Kubane Tolo, before going to press.
