‘We are currently in the transitional phase of amalgamation, which will work smoothly under the ANC,’ says NW405 ANC chief whip, Mpho Matsapola.

She was responding to the harsh stance of the DA caucus chairperson, Hans-Jurie Moolman in last week’s article. Moolman said the NW 405 municipal manager (MM), Dr Nomathemba Blaai-Mokgethi ‘must pack her bags and go’.

Matsapola did not mince her words as she detailed what she deems an unwarranted attack by the DA against the MM.

‘Firstly, it was uncalled for. During the special council meeting on 9 March, the DA held high their placards saying: ‘Our city deserves better, Dr Blaai-Mokgethi Must Go’. I regard these as desperate attempts and cheap political grandstanding on the part of the DA.’

‘In his statement, Cllr Moolman demands the removal of the municipal manager due to the escalation of irregular expenditure as set out in the Auditor-General’s report. The second allegation is that the municipal manager and the ANC are targeting officials and trying to make them scapegoats,’ she said.

According to Matsapola, there are fundamental issues that need to be clarified ‘lest our people get confused by the propaganda and lies that have been spread around to tarnish the image and credibility of the MM and also the ANC’.

‘Firstly, the MM, as the accounting officer, has managers and other officials reporting to her and who are responsible for their respective departments. They roll out services, procure goods and ensure that supply chain management processes are followed to the letter. I accept that the MM is answerable as the accounting officer but she cannot be held responsible for the corruption and theft of individual employees.

‘Cllr Moolman’s statement comes in the wake of the suspension of employees who are being investigated for alleged fraud and corruption and, furthermore, are involved in ghost payments that have resulted in the municipality losing millions of rands that were meant for job creation and service delivery to the poor.

‘Now, what touched a nerve is that all suspended employees are white people, hence an attempt to divert attention to the MM. It is sad that corruption is only corruption when it involves black employees. But, when white employees are implicated, it is called ‘targeting officials and making them scapegoats’ according to the DA. It is clear that the DA does not care about fighting corruption but, rather, about some individuals within the municipality. Unlike the DA, however, the ANC is unshaken and we will not hesitate to do what is best in the interest of our people,’ she said.

Motsapela added that the ANC has ‘undertaken to intensify the fight against fraud and corruption’.

‘Any corruption undermines the work of government by preventing it from dealing with the core issues of poverty, inequality and unemployment within our communities.

‘So, to answer your question, Cllr Moolman, the cause of wasteful and fruitless expenditure is the corruption of ghost payments of millions of rands.

‘The DA claims to fight corruption but, when it involves white employees, it is an issue. Let us give the investigators an opportunity to conclude their investigation and expose the corruption that we all want to eradicate.

‘Lastly, it is very sad that Cllr Moolman is trying to use the unfortunate death of Mr Hansie Claasen for political point-scoring and without evidence. The less said about the untimely death of Claasen the better as a dead man cannot speak for himself,’ she said.

She concluded by saying that demanding the municipal manager to resign on the basis of officials’ alleged corruption will not assist the municipality but only serve to perpetuate the corruption.

‘More has been achieved by the ANC government since 1994 and we will not stop servicing our people with houses, roads, job creation, water and sanitation, to mention just a few,’ she said.