Ga-Maja community up in arms over ‘rotten councillor’
Around 90 to 100 people called for an investigation by what they refer to as a "properly constituted" legal team, to investigate allegations of misconduct involving more than R70 000
POLOKWANE – A large delegation of the Ga-Maja community, comprising ward 2 residents and representatives from the traditional leadership, marched to the Office of the Premier on Friday to protest about “the rotten and unscrupulous behaviour” of a ward councillor.
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Around 90 to 100 people called for an investigation by what they refer to as a “properly constituted” legal team, to investigate allegations of misconduct involving more than R70 000, against a ward councillor whose identity is known to BONUS, in a memorandum handed over to a representative of the Office of the Premier.
They asked that criminal cases be opened against the woman within a month of 9 March and that a disciplinary hearing be instituted against her and she be dismissed.
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They demanded an answer from the premier within seven days, claiming that the municipality, from the Public Participation Unit to the speaker’s and the mayor’s offices knew about the issues brought to the premier, but had failed to do anything.
They claim the councillor failed to attend meetings with or consult with the community and traditional leadership and insulted the local Kgoshi.
The community in their memorandum to the premier claimed the councillor had solicited various bribes and accepted money from various contractors, whom they named, amounting to more than R70 000, offered catering jobs and a construction sub-contract to her daughter, sold jobs and manipulated the beneficiary process of RDP houses to benefit illegitimate beneficiaries.
Phuti Seloba, Provincial Government Spokesperson, said the plight of the people in the province is important to government and they had to attend to the complaints of the community.
Municipal Spokesperson Matshidiso Mothapo said the issue of the councillor not attending meetings with the traditional leadership was attended to during a meeting with the traditional leadership, the councillor and the offices of both the speaker and executive mayor.
“A resolution was taken that she would participate in the structures, and as far as we are concerned, she is doing so, as per resolution. If she is not, the traditional authorities should bring it to the attention of both the offices. All matters pertaining to ethical conduct of councillors should be reported to the office of the speaker, who would refer it to relevant committees of the council,” he said.
Mothapo said he couldn’t comment on the other allegations, as the municipality was not aware of the matter. He said the other issues should be brought to the attention of the relevant law enforcement authorities by the community.
Various telephone calls to the councillor went unanswered and an e-mail sent to her last week, as well as an SMS to inform her about the e-mail and its contents, asking for comment on the allegations, did not yield any response.
