Note to Broadcasters: Find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Hendriëtte van Huyssteen
It is alleged that ANC Cllr Rhoda Morakile has implicated herself with mobilising members of the community to violently protest the construction of a local mall.
Construction has been disrupted on a few occasions with illegal road closures, protests, acts of intimidation and harassment at the site, putting the safety of construction workers at risk and delaying a project that will create local jobs and provide goods and services to the community in close proximity. See video here.
Protests escalated forcing the companies Twin City Trading (Pty) Ltd and NJW Building (Pty) Ltd to approach the High Court in Mahikeng seeking urgent relief against Cllr Morakile as the First Respondent. The High Court granted the interdict with a cost order against Cllr Morakile. See the interdict here.
In a twist of ANC cadre deployment, factionalism, and the politicisation of municipal officials, somehow attorneys Morathi and Mataka Incorporated indicated that they have been instructed to appeal the High Court’s interdict against Cllr Morakile at the expense of the Naledi Local Municipality. See letter here. The DA has already requested an explanation. See letter here.
The DA in the Naledi Local Municipality will write to Speaker, Cllr Pitso Gulane, to refer the ANC’s Ward 6 Councillor Rhoda Morakile for investigation by the Ethics Committee for her alleged involvement in what has become a local construction mafia.
In addition, we call for an investigation into the appointment of Morathi and Mataka Incorporated to appeal the interdict on behalf of Naledi Local Municipality, without a Council resolution, and whoever made this instruction should also face disciplinary action.
ANC Cllr Morakile serves on the Naledi Portfolio Committee on Community Services, Housing and Tourism under which the Department of Local Economic Development falls. Her work, as per her oath of office and the Code of Conduct for Councillors should be to promote and attract investment that will see the local economy grow and not to involve herself with destructive agendas that promote economic decline and unemployment.
Should these allegations be proven true, Cllr Morakile should be removed from office and criminally charged, and any municipal official found to have abused their position to instruct a private law firm to act on behalf of Naledi Local Municipality to appeal the interdict should also be fired.