Senior managers of embattled Molemole local municipality are facing charges of fraud and corruption.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Molemole local municipality has requested the MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makamu to urgently place the embattled council under Section 139 administration following the arrests of senior officials for tender fraud and corruption.
This comes after a surprise raid by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation otherwise known as the Hawks in which the officials were arrested.
The DA says all the arrested officials must be immediately suspended so that they cannot influence or contaminate the investigations.
According to DA councillor, Calvin Matje, just two newly-appointed senior managers remain in office after the Hawks arrested the rest.
Matje says the municipality’s administration is now crippled.
“The DA has continuously raised concerns over Molemole’s irregular and dubious project appointments, including the Morebeng landfill site where the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs allocated an amount of R38 million for infrastructure development but to date, only a palisade fence and a borehole drilled were completed. The contractor on the electrification of Matseke extension was paid R2 million before project completion.
A service provider, whose rates and taxes were in arrears at the Ekurhuleni Metro, was awarded a tender worth R238 500 to conduct training for councillors. This appointment is in contravention of regulation 28 of the Supply Chain Management Act, and
Construction of the Fatima culvert bridge, initially registered for R7.5 million, was marred by underperformance by the contractor and despite the appointment of a new contractor, with an additional budget, the initial contractor was not held accountable in terms of the project scope.
The level of corruption within Molemole Municipality was also raised by the Auditor General in the 2024/2025 report, but was ignored by ANC Mayor, Masilo Paya,” said Matje.
Municipal Manager, Kgabo Makgatho was arrested along with
Community Services Manager, Timothy Molopa, Manger of Supply Chain, Tebogo Ralephenya,
Chairperson of the Bid Evaluation Committee, who is also the Manager in the Office of the Municipal Manager, Nkoto Modiisha, Acting Manager: Technical Services, Justice Mabetoa, Acting Manager: Corporate Services, Maphuti Manyelo;Manager: Technician and Stormwater, Bongani Mabaso.
Meanwhile, former Chief Financial Officer, Zulu Myizile and Donald Masipa, a contractor habitually appointed by the municipality, were also arrested.
“The DA believes that political officer bearers had to have knowledge of this scale of corruption, which has brought the municipality to its knees,” he said.
It is alleged that the officials were involved in the omission of proper tender procedures, in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Avele Fumba said preliminary investigations indicate that the alleged misconduct may have resulted in financial prejudice to the municipality, although the exact value is still subject to verification.
The suspects appeared before the Senwabarwana Magistrate’s Court on April17 for their bail application.
They remain in police custody. The Hawks indicated that more arrests are imminent.
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