Randfontein municipal manager Mpho Mogale has been given the boot and is now out of office.
This decision was taken last week by the Randfontein Council and comes after numerous demands from the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) having called for Mogale to step down owing to allegations of corruption in his office.
Other allegations raised were those of intentionally sidelining the Randfontein Executive Mayor in decisionmaking processes and in other councilrelated matters.
According to the union’s spokesperson Rogers Mkotolana, the council’s decision to let Mogale go was long
overdue, however, is welcomed nonetheless.
“We are thrilled that Mogale was relieved from his duties and I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that the municipality will be better off without him,” Mkotolana says.
“The man was corrupt and is largely responsible for the mismanagement of funds within council,” Mkotolana says.
Mkotolana adds that Mogale’s poor decisions have led to the municipality’s R89 million debt towards Eskom.
He also says that this decision has instilled confidence among union members and shows that the municipality does take their outcries seriously.
The herald spoke to Mogale who says the allegations against him are malicious.
“I was deployed by the former minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to stabilise the municipality and I did just that.
“Therefore, my performance within the municipality can be judged on the Auditor Generals report over the past two years. During that time, I managed to receive a qualified opinion where assets, chain management and leave encasement are concerned,” says Mogale.
He adds that there is a good chance that the municipality may not receive a qualifying report for the 2013/2014 financial year. On the issue of the Eskom debt, Mogale says that the municipality’s cash flow structure is the problem and can be combated only by vigorous revenue collection.
He warns that unions should not tangle themselves in political issues and rather should focus on defending and protecting the rights of their members.
