Please find attached soundbite in English by Soret Viljoen
- DA opposes acting appointments amid Tswaing’s deepening governance and financial crisis.
- Appointment of the Speaker’s close relative raises serious governance and conflict-of-interest concerns.
- Municipality needs credible leadership to implement the Financial Recovery Plan, not controversial appointments.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has rejected the appointment of two acting senior officials at the Tswaing Local Municipality, warning that the decisions further undermine public confidence in a municipality already battling financial collapse, deteriorating service delivery, and a deepening governance crisis.
At a virtual Special Council meeting held on 9 July 2026, Council proceeded with the appointment of an Acting Director: Corporate Services and an Acting Municipal Manager despite the municipality facing severe operational and financial challenges.
These appointments come at a time when municipal employees have reportedly gone unpaid for two consecutive months, National Treasury has temporarily withheld Tswaing’s equitable share due to persistent financial non-compliance, and residents continue to experience widespread service delivery failures.
The DA believes the municipality should be focused on restoring stability and implementing its Financial Recovery Plan, rather than making appointments that are likely to generate further controversy.
The appointment of Mr Lobakeng Frank Letlhakane as Acting Director: Corporate Services is particularly concerning. During the nomination process, three candidates were proposed and their curricula vitae were read aloud during the meeting without supporting documentation having been circulated to councillors beforehand.
It was only after the DA questioned whether one of the nominees was related to the Speaker, based on the shared surname, that Speaker Cllr Sam Letlhakane declared a pecuniary interest and disclosed that Mr Letlhakane is his close relative. The Speaker then recused himself from that item and handed the chair to another councillor.
While the declaration was ultimately made, the DA believes that relationships of this nature should be disclosed proactively before the process begins to protect the integrity of Council decisions and avoid any perception of favouritism or nepotism. Despite the DA’s objections, Council proceeded with the appointment.
Council also appointed Advocate Lesang Cyril Lobakeng as Acting Municipal Manager after he was the only nominee for the position.
The DA has serious reservations about this appointment. Advocate Lobakeng has previously served as the municipality’s Legal Advisor and Acting Director: Corporate Services and is named in the recently published Section 106 investigation report submitted to Council by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. During the meeting, concerns were also raised regarding his reported health and ability to fulfil the demanding responsibilities of Municipal Manager.
When these concerns were raised, the Mayor and Speaker stated that Advocate Lobakeng had been cleared of the findings contained in the Section 106 report. However, no documentary evidence was presented to substantiate these claims, nor were councillors provided with any formal explanation regarding the status of the findings or his suitability for appointment.
The DA believes these appointments are unsustainable at a time when Tswaing requires credible, capable and independent leadership to restore financial stability, rebuild public confidence and drive the implementation of the municipality’s Financial Recovery Plan.
Residents deserve an administration focused on turning the municipality around, strengthening governance, improving financial management and restoring basic services, rather than one distracted by appointments that raise legitimate questions about governance and accountability.
The DA will continue to oppose decisions that undermine good governance, transparency and merit-based appointments, and will use every available oversight mechanism to hold the municipality accountable for decisions that are not in the best interests of residents.