MOKOPANE – “AS residents of Mogalakwena we are shocked by the lies of the newly appointed Mogalakwena mayor Malesela Parks Sebatjane, that R5,57 million is missing and unaccounted for, while he is aware that the money was payed into a Capitec account of a senior ANC leader in the Waterberg region,” read a media statement on Tuesday afternoon by the Mogalakwena Residents Association, (MRA).

This statement follows after a discovery was made by the Mogalakwena muncipality last week of a fraudulent transaction that cost the municipality R5,57 million.

According to a statement by the Mogalakwena municipality last week the payment was earmarked to four different service providers but the report that was drafted by management indicates that the money was paid into different accounts and not into the rightful accounts of the service providers.

“A case of fraud has been opened at commercial crime and a thorough police investigation is underway. We cannot confirm whether it is an internal or external matter.”

The MRA stated: “Recently after the new unrecognized mayor who was illegally elected by illegal council into office, we are told that R5.57 million went missing. What a coincidence,we are not fouls! The newly imposed mayor claims that they do not know where our money is which is pure lies,” read the statement by the MRA.

“The provincial secretary of the ANC, the main man behind the Mogalakwena debacle and Stan Mathabatha, premier of Limpopo, are enjoying to loot the Mogalakwena municipality at the expense of the poor masses.”

“According to municipal financial management Act no 56 0f 2003, it states very clear that the municipal manager is the signatory to the municipal bank account. And in this case Phuledi Selepe was acting municipal manager who gave authorization that R5.57 million be paid to a known Capitec bank account. So the new mayor must tell us the truth who is the owner of the Capitec bank account?” stated the MRA.

The MRA made the following demands in their statement:

•As the MRA we demand that the national treasure appoint an independent forensic audit company to investigate all financial transactions made in Mogalakwena municipality dating back to November 2014 .

•The new mayor Sebatjane must do the honourable thing and resign with immediate effect.

•We request the national executive committee, (NEC) of the ANC to suspend and institute investigation to the impropriety conduct of Knox Seabi and premier Mathabatha, because “these are mafias that are behind instability and looting spring in Mogalakwena”.

•We call upon the ANC NEC to make an intervention in the legal battle between Mogalakwena municipality and municipal manager, William Kekana, because it cost taxpayers money.

•We call for the immediate implementation of the KPMG forensic audit report recommendations and immediate arrest of the perpetrators.

•The imposed mayor of Mogalakwena municipality must pay back the R5.57million that went missing.

•We demand that all sections 57 managers be retained to their position.

The MRA said it is unacceptable that the residents of Mogalakwena continue to suffer and live in abject poverty meanwhile leaders of the ANC are living luxurious life style at the expenses of the poor community of Mogalakwena. Many villages are without running water and infrastructure and many young people are unemployed which in our view the missing money could be used to address the current challenges and social illness.The money can be utilized to empower our young people and create jobs.

“If the ANC NEC doesn’t adhere to our demands,we will meet them at next years local government election polling stations.”

Tolly Mashamiate, regional secretary of the ANC Waterberg district, told Bosveld on Wednesday morning with regards to the comment by the MRA that mayor Sebatjane is illegally elected. The MRA has never participated in local government elections, so they do not know the steps that are taken to elect a mayor. All the legal steps were taken with the election of mayor Sebatjane, they do not have any reason to say that the mayor is illegally appointed.

He also appealed to the MRA to respect the provincial secretary of the ANC and premier Mathabatha as they are not guilty of these allegations. “The ANC will try our best to meet all of the needs of the residents of Mogalakwena municipality and not the demands of individuals within the MRA.”

The Mogalakwena municipality responded to the above statement as follows:”we have released a statement after the R5,57 million incident where we have indicated that a case has been opened with the commercial crime and they are working on it. As the municipality we appeal to anyone who has information with regards to this incident to report the matter to the police as it will speedily assist on investigations.”

Slip-up of R5,5m