Mogalakwena mayor is given marching orders

THE -removal of Mogalakwena Municipality councillors implicated by a forensic audit done by KPMG was received with joyous ululations by Mogalakwena Residents Association members, as well as members of the official opposition and other residents.

The council resolved to remove the implicated councillors, including mayor Thlalifi Mashamaite during a special sitting last week. The councillors were Sam Montane, Malose Tlhaku, David Langa, Malose Tsebe, Rehab Lebelo and Victor Mashamaite.

Municipal spokesperson, Malesela Selokela said the removed councillors would be replaced by Esther Mothibi as technical services chairperson, Grace Ngobeni as community services chairperson, Michael Moseamedi as electrical services chairperson, Daphney Ramasobana as special projects chairperson, and Issac Mogotlane as traffic and emergency services chairperson. Francina Mabuela retained her position as planning and developmental services chairperson, Abraham Kgaphola retained his position as finance chairperson, Elizabeth Ramashala was moved from being traffic and emergency services chairperson to being corporate services chairperson.

Malose William Mabuela was voted to be mayor, while Gilbert Pila would be the chief whip.

“The council further resolved that all municipal property in their possession like laptops, cell phones and vehicles be returned to the municipality within 48 hours and the security services which were rendered at their homes be stopped with immediate effect,” he said, adding that all money that was misused would be recovered from them.

He was unable to say whether all municipal property had indeed been returned.

Mabuela said he would strive to unite the council of Mogalakwena Municipality. He further indicated that he wanted to be accountable to Mogalakwena residents.

The leader of the Mogalakwena Residents Association, Piet Pale said the new mayor was mopping up the mess caused by Mashamaite’s administration. He said since the new mayor had been in office, residents were happy.

Pale added that the association was still calling for people to exercise their democratic right to vote. “Initially, some of the people were angry, threatening not to vote, but we managed to make them change their minds,” he said.

Beyers Smit from the Democratic Alliance said they welcomed the resolution to remove those implicated. He warned the new executive council not to follow in the footsteps of the past two administrations, who had failed.