Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Arista Annandale.
Mahikeng Mayor, Cllr Tshepiso Mphehlo, withdrew the permanent appointments of senior managers from the agenda of the last Council meeting held in December 2023 due to sustained DA pressure.
We are pleased that the vacancies will be readvertised, except for the position of Chief Operations Officer (COO) which is not on the municipality’s approved organogram, is not budgeted for, and is in contravention of the Mahikeng Local Municipality’s Human Resources policy.
The DA early last year opposed the acting appointment to COO of Mr Lekgowa Mahole, who was already appointed in a political position as the Operations Manager in the Office of the Mayor. Mr Mahole received two salaries for the 9 month period.
This is a gross abuse of public funds and a perfect example of the ANC’s persistent cadre deployment policy that seeks to only line the pockets of cadres by blurring the lines between party and state.
Mayor Mphehlo should explain how the additional salary and benefits paid to Mr Mahole during his 9 month term as acting COO will be recovered.
Acting appointments were made while the recruitment process began afresh, however, the DA distanced itself from the appointment of the acting Senior Manager for Corporate Services, Mr Pelele, because he was found guilty of forging the Municipal Manager, Adv Dineo Mongwaketse’s signature, but only received a final warning. The MM warned Council of the risks involved in appointing Mr Pelele, but as usual, the ANC remained hellbent on executing its cadre deployment tactics at the expense of the municipality.
We also distanced ourselves from the appointment of the acting Senior Manager for Public Safety, as the ANC appointed the same person who will now be acting for 12 months and also because the MM could not provide any evidence of concurrence from the North West MEC of COGHSTA, which is required for this position by the Municipal Systems Act.
The DA will, through its Member on the COGHSTA’s Portfolio Committee in the North West Provincial Legislature, Freddy Sonakile, write to the MEC of COGHSTA, Nono Maloyi, requesting him to supply proof of his concurrence of all acting positions for senior managers appointed during 2023.
We will continue to oppose the ANC’s cadre deployment policy which has collapsed service delivery, increased corruption, and destroyed governance. This year, residents should join hands with the DA to put an end to the ANC regime which has increased poverty, inequality, unemployment and crime, so that we can rescue South Africa and rebuild what the ANC has destroyed.