Kgetjepe to be commended for taking corrective action against senior management members of the Mogalakwena Municipality

I would like to congratulate the MEC for cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs (Coghsta), Ishmael Kgetjepe, for placing Mogalakwena Municipality under administration, according to section 139 1 (b) of the constitution that states that when a municipality does not fulfil an executive obligation, the provincial government may intervene by taking appropriate steps to correct the situation.

Let it be known that former Coghsta MECs failed to do just that during their tenure.

The problems at Mogalakwena escalated for four years until Kgetjepe took decisive action after investigations.

Political squabbles within the municipality damaged the brand, reputation and image of Mogalakwena Municipality and the provincial government.

Lack of communication and commitment to come up with solutions escalated the problem.

Embarrassing headlines carried the battles between former mayor Tlhalefi Mashamaite and municipal manager William Kekana yet could not signal there was a problem to the leadership. When the two leaders of Mogalakwena came to work carrying guns this still could not shock the leadership.

I think Kekana remains a victim of the two former mayors, Mashamaite and Esther Mothibi.

They abused Kekana during their terms of office.

In 2011 the SACP, Cosatu, Sanco and the ANCYL marched to the municipal offices to hand a memorandam to Mothibi and Thapelo Matlaila, a Salga representative.

It became apparent that the mayor was not going to respond to the memorandum and the march proceeded to the Mokopane police station where a case was opened.

Mothibi was accused in the memorandum of instructing Kekana to award tenders to a list of companies from Giyani and allegedly used her influence to persuade the council to purchase new vehicles while her current vehicle was still in good condition.

Mothibi was also accused in the memorandum of using her influence to get her relatives employed.

As if that is not enough, Mashamaite entered the fray when a KPMG report pointed fingers at him for spending some R1 million on 27 personal bodyguards and ordering 12 000 T-shirts in four separate orders at a cost of R838 000 without following the correct procedures.

It is very clear that there has been a problem of governance in Mogalakwena.

Mpholosane Modiba

Media strategist, Sepotlo Media Consultants