FTLM council meeting comes down to blows
"I don't know anything about the VBS investments, it was not my responsibility to know where it was invested. The CFO and MM should be the ones with the information.''
APEL – The Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality’s (FTLM) ordinary council meeting degenerated into chaos as words and fists flew among the councillors and security personnel.
The sitting, which was hosted at the Moses Mabotha Hall on October 30, was expected to debate the R240 million that the municipality deposited into VBS Mutual Bank.
Opposition parties persuaded Speaker Naomi Phala to put the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC)’s oversight report on VBS investments first on the agenda. The MPAC report was presented by chairman of the committee, ND Mphethi. During her presentation she indicated that the VBS situation was badly affecting provision of services in the municipality.
Among the recommendations made by MPAC was that “consequence management be applied to all those who are implicated in the VBS saga.”
The opposition parties; EFF, DA and SADA; stood on these words, “all those implicated should resign.”
Speaking during the meeting, EFF councillor Kgothatso Mogowane said the ANC leadership was a disgrace to the people of Fetakgomo Tubatse.
“Mayor (Johannes Phokane), you have failed the people of Tubatse, please do the honourable thing and resign. Head of finance (Isaac Mamogale), you must resign from that position. We’re not a faction of the ANC where we are going to please other comrades over the other. We’re fighting corruption here. You are resigning, and we will suspend the municipal manager (MM), Nonto Busane, and acting chief financial officer (CFO), Frank Maredi. Thereafter we will explore ways on how we are going to get our money back from VBS.
“The DA’s Isaac Makgopa told the council that they were ashamed of the political leadership of FTLM. “How can you tell the nation that the reason you invested with VBS was a faulty interpretation of the law? We warned the mayor of the risks of investing in the mutual bank when the first R30 million was invested. Do the honourable thing, resign and go back to the Limpopo educational department where your skills are needed.”
The opposition’s pleas seemed to be falling on deaf ears, as none of the implicated officials wanted to respond or resign. After several breaks the head of finance, Mamogale, told the house that he was not in any way involved in the VBS investment.
“I don’t know anything about the VBS investments, it was not my responsibility to know where it was invested. The CFO and MM should be the ones with the information.”
The marathon meeting lasted from 14:00 to 19:40. In the evening, fights broke out as the opposition parties wanted the ruling on the MPAC report’s findings and recommendations.
Mabotwane security personnel and EFF councillors wrestled one another in the council. The Speaker finally called the meeting off without any ruling on the
VBS matter. By the time of going to press a date for the next council meeting had not
been set.
