LIMPOPO – THE DA in Tubatse says it is fed up with the way in which Greater Tubatse mayor Ralepane Mamekoa is managing the finances of the municipality.
Speaking on behalf of the DA in Tubatse, Lethabile Kgwedi, said cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs MEC Makoma Makhurupetje, should take action against Mamekoa, the speaker, Queen Moeng and former acting municipal manager, Adelaide Monyepao for interfering in the appointment of Section 57 managers.
The DA said in its media release that Monyepao had acted as municipal manager for 11 months but the council took a resolution to appoint a different person after questioning her competence in running the financial affairs of the municipality.
“She legally challenged the decision of the panel because she was not selected. The council withdrew the appointment and recommended the re-advertisement of the post,” Kgwedi said.
“The mayor as well as the speaker interfered in the appointment of the chief financial officer, and Makhurupetje did not give concurrence, arguing that the correct steps were not followed and therefore the post must be re-advertised.
“This resulted in re-advertisement of more than R500 000 which was not budgeted for. Wasting money on the re-advertisement of posts due to political interference is totally unacceptable and tantamount to abuse of power by the ruling party,” he said.
The DA said the money could have been used to better the lives of the people of Tubatse or purchased bicycles for the learners who traveled long distances to schools.
“We want the MEC to intervene in this matter by holding these individuals to account.”
According to Kgwedi, the DA would submit a motion of no confidence against the trio, pushing for their immediate expulsion.
It is not the first time the DA questioned the management of the municipality. In February the party marched to the municipal buildings where it handed over a memorandum of demands that included clean water in the communities and proper roads.
No comment had been received on the matter from municipal spokesperson, Thabiso Mokoena, by the time of going to print.
