Note to Broadcasters: Please find a linked soundbite in English by Cllr Kagiso Mangwejane.
The DA in the Tswaing Local Municipality is concerned with the Executive Mayor, Cllr Norah Mahlangu’s, inability to address irregular appointments within the municipality.
The North West MEC of Finance, Ziphora Rosho, wrote to Mayor Mahlangu in July 2023, indicating that the then newly appointed Municipal Manager (MM), Deon Mere, lacked the necessary qualifications to serve in this role. This letter was only tabled in Council in March 2024 after the DA requested it during three consecutive Council meetings.
MM Mere was then suspended, with salary benefits, pending an investigation into his qualifications. Council proceeded to appoint Technical Director, Thabo Meerken, as Acting Municipal Manager, however, Mr Meerken resigned from the position within two weeks of his appointment.
Despite strong opposition from the DA, the ANC abused their majority and appointed Mr Mogale Morwe, as Acting Municipal Manager, without verifying whether he holds the necessary qualifications for the role.
Mayor Mahlangu received a court order requiring the immediate reinstatement of Mr Mere to the position of Municipal Manager.
MEC Rosho again wrote to Mayor Mahlangu on 9 May 2024, highlighting that Tswaing was placed under Section 139(5) Provincial Administration for a financial recovery process in August 2021 and that the ANC-run municipality has undermined the intervention to restore good financial management and governance practises towards improving service delivery to residents. MEC Rosho indicated that irregular appointments and promotions of employees contribute to the financial distress of the municipality.
None of the last two documents were willingly shared with Council. The DA strongly condemns the mayor’s concealment of important communications and documents from Council.
The DA will through our DA North West Caucus Leader in the Legislature, Freddy Sonakile MPL, write to the Acting Premier and the MEC for COGHSTA, Nono Maloyi, and MEC Rosho, to immediately begin the process to place Tswaing under Section 139(7) National Administration.
It is evident that Mayor Mahlangu’s only priority is to accommodate her fellow ANC comrades instead of governing in the interest of residents and delivering services.
In less than a week, Tswaing residents will have the opportunity to empower themselves and vote in the DA, because where we govern, we appoint qualified officials that can effectively manage public finances and deliver quality basic services to residents.
