We welcome the recalling of the Mogalakwena mayor, Tlhalefi Mashamaite by the ANC. This decision by the ruling party is long overdue. There is a growing culture of impunity to leaders who commit corruption in the ANC. Corruption is a primitive accumulation of wealth that should never be embraced. This corruption cancer must not be allowed to grow further in Limpopo. Mashamaite might have been a political asset for the ANC in Frans Mohlala House, but he was an administrative liability for the Mogalakwena Municipality, which he failed to serve as mayor. The ANC in Limpopo, the provincial government and the South African Local Government Association in Limpopo have a soft spot for Mashamaite. He has been treated with kids gloves. To the residents of Mogalakwena, when we are given a rare opportunity, which is coming in the 2016 municipal elections, to elect good men and women into public office, we unfortunately elect them based on the size of their pockets or on the basis of their ethnic extraction, and when they occupy public office, we expect them to behave well. We are asked to elect a committee to determine the fair rules of hunting and we elect wolves and hyenas and expect them to take care of the sheep. I am flabbergasted by Nocks Seabi, the ANC provincial secretary and Tolly Mashamaite, the ANC Waterberg regional secretary when they both say Mashamaite will remain as a councillor and a new mayor will soon be voted for by the council. I wonder what level of political correctness did Seabi and Tolly get on this occasion? At the 2012 ANC elective conference in Mangaung, the party resolved to establish an integrity commission at all levels to protect its standing in society by ensuring urgent action is taken to deal with public officials, leaders and members of the ANC, who face allegations of improper conduct. I wonder if the ANC in Limpopo managed to establish a provincial integrity commission. If the commission is there, why has it not done anything for the past three years since Mashamaite’s corruption scandals? How on earth could a leader like Mashamaite, who was grossly unfit to be mayor be fit to become a councillor in the same municipality that he failed as mayor? The same applies to the former Blouberg mayor, Sekgolwane Serite, who was recalled by the ANC and will also remain a councillor. A faction of 22 ANC councillors teamed up with the opposition to remove Mashamaite after a KPMG forensic report implicated him in the alleged misuse of R1,5 million that he allegedly used to order 12 000 T-shirts in four separate orders without following proper procedures. He allegedly also spent more than R1 million on his 27 personal bodyguards. Forensic auditors recommended that criminal charges be laid against Mashamaite for the alleged misuse of public funds. The ANC responded by firing the 22 councillors, including his successor, Malose Mabuela, speaker, Meelba Mabusela and former mayor, Ester Mothibi for collaborating to topple Mashamaite, however, they remained in their positions. MEC for Coghsta, Makoma Makhurupetje won a court bid to have their vacancies contested through by-elections. In 2013, the municipal manager, Willie Kekana opened a case of burglary after his laptop and his secretary’s desktop were found inside the office of the mayor. According to the municipal spokesperson, Malesela Selokela, the mayor entered Kekana’s office without his knowledge and changed locks to prevent him from entering his office. The ANC previously allowed Mashamaite to return to the mayoral office after being constitutionally removed by a council resolution. In 2014, the police removed newly-appointed mayor, Malose Mabuela and his councillors as Mashamaite claimed he was still mayor after being re-elected in a council meeting held at a local hotel and chaired by Thapelo Matlala, executive officer of the South African Local Government Association in Limpopo. This turned Mogalakwena into a political circus. Mashamaite is a political ancestor. He has served his terms in the National Council of Provinces in parliament, he served on different parliamentary committees of education, recreation, social services, land and enviromental affairs, was a member of Limpopo Legislature and served as Mogalakwena mayor. He should now be allowed to rest and stop being active in mainstream politics. Mogalakwena needs a new vibrant mayor who will serve the interests of the people.
Mpholosane Modiba is a writer and media liaison practitioner. He writes in his personal capacity
