Despite a landmark ruling by the Polokwane High Court sitting in Polokwane that reiterated the Mogalakwena Municipal manager Morris Maluleke’s position was null and void; the powers that be are determined to keep him.
While the disgruntled residents of this dysfunctional municipality are bearing the brunt of lack of service delivery, those whole wield power are more focused on protecting a man with a history of gross bureaucratic malfeasance.
Municipal boss, Morris Maluleke has disregarded the chronic lack of service delivery and “irregularly” authorized a R61-million lease agreement for a fleet of vehicles.
Under his stewardship since his dubious appointment on 8 August 2022, Maluleke allegedly advertised and sanctioned 14 dubious tenders to suspicious companies, according to well-placed sources in the embattled council.
An administrator with a chequered history in the public service, Maluleke was appointed through a flawed interview process, allegedly by mayor, Ngwako Taueatsoala unilaterally.
Following a protracted legal bid to oust Maluleke from his managerial position, the High Court ruled on September 11 that his appointment was unconstitutional.
The court also dismissed the municipality’s leave to appeal the case with costs, after the local government sought to challenge last year’s ruling in the same court which declared Maluleke’s appointment as unconstitutional and ordered that his position be re-advertised within 14 days.
Since his arrival at the beleaguered Mogalakwena, he was never welcomed by civil society, opposition parties and the labour force.
There was always an atmosphere of anxiety that he will “loot” the coffers of the embattled local government.
In 2018, while he was chief financial officer of Madibeng local municipality in the North West, Maluleke agreed to a R190 million fleet lease and irregularly deposited R50-million into the now-defunct VBS, but only R20-millions of that money was recovered following the collapse of the mutual bank.
SANCO in the Waterberg Region said the council should honour the Court ruling.
Regional coordinator, Charles Makhubela said “We are well aware that mayor, Taueatsoala is defending this crooked municipal manager” said Makhubele.
Despite numerous calls for the removal of the mayor and municipal manager, municipal Malesela Selokela said the dismissal of the leave to appeal does not mean that the case has been lost.
| Selokela said the municipality is still studying the judgement and will lodge a petition at the Supreme Court of Appeal. SAMWU in the province said following the court outcome, Maluleke should be expelled. |
For the umpteenth period, Mogalakwena has been a municipality on the precipice and the recurring service delivery protests by angry residents confirm that the problems gripping the council are far from over.
The tensions at Mogalakwena are emblematic of much wider social and political fraying-points ad infinitum.
While political discourse in the council were reaching boiling point, gunmen became a law unto themselves, executing civic leaders who were fighting for the soul of under siege Mogalakwena.