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Municipality remains rudderless
Mayor still faces accusations MARTI WILL The Matjhabeng Local Municipality is in chaos and teetering on the brink of total collapse with no accounting officer to steer it out of its quagmire. Following Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo's abrupt departure in September 2024, the municipality remains without permanent leadership. A succession of acting appointments has failed to provide stability. Thabo Panyani assumed the role on an interim basis for ten months before his tenure was terminated due to lack of concurrence from the MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to approve an extension beyond the stipulated 90 days. Adv. Lauretta van Wyk then took over in this capacity from August to October this year. The municipal manager position remains glaringly vacant after the recent ANC caucus and council meeting, where the majority of councillors opposed executive mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha's nomination of Khathatso Tlhakudi. According to ANC councillors, they strongly disagreed with the appointment despite Khalipha's claim that the ANC deployment committee had approved it. The leadership ultimately withdrew the nomination. The municipality currently has no acting municipal manager as Van Wyk's appointment has lapsed without council extension. Last week, executive leadership left the administration in paralysis
has declared all directorships in construction companies and whether these businesses conduct municipal work. Questions also arise about Khalipha’s alleged ownership of two Riebeeckstad properties − one built by a service provider in Gluckman Drive, another in Bellevue Street. Khoabane addressed missing mayoral chains worth millions and copper doors removed from the Civic Centre. Other concerns include the alleged purchase of a BMW for the mayor’s personal assistant and also the alleged R1 million cash spent on furniture and electronics allegedly for various private residences using municipal funds. The letter questions allegations that employees fear speaking out following Khalipha's reported claims during mayoral committee meetings that he has friends in sectors such as the special investigation units, police, and even ranks within the Hawks who provide information on individuals reporting corruption. The 33 questions encompass irregular expenditure including R3 million in salaries paid into fictitious accounts in 2020, missing R30 million reportedly invested in 2019, and R3 million paid into a fictitious Lesotho account in 2016. Employees shared their hope that administrative recommendations will be implemented without political interference in Matjhabeng citizens' interests, as the municipality desperately seeks stability amid mounting allegations of systemic corruption and governance failures.
Employees shared their hope that administrative recommendations will be implemented without political interference through collective absenteeism. Van Wyk was on sick leave whilst Dr Vuyo Adonis, executive director of Corporate Services, Jonathan Ntsabo, executive director of Infrastructure, and Thabo Panyani, former acting municipal manager, were all simultaneously on leave. This left Matjhabeng a rudderless ship in a stormy sea. Employees, union representatives, and executive management have complained of persistent bullying and harassment by Khalipha, creating a toxic work environment triggering surges in sick leave and resignations. Vista has seen a union letter addressed to Van Wyk, complaining about the alleged assault of union members in the mayoral boardroom. In a damning letter to Khalipha, prominent ANC Free State Legislature member Oupa Khoabane poses 33 questions about alleged corrupt activities following a 4 November meeting of the joint committee on public accounts and cooperative governance. Khoabane specifically questioned whether comprehensive investigations were requested regarding the litigation debacle where millions of rand were allegedly siphoned to a Gauteng legal firm, and the appointment of an irregular rogue unit in the Public Safety Department. The letter queries whether Khalipha
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Lyson Mafuta creates exquisite wirework art pieces. This, his latest creation, is a tin jacket, cap and briefcase. It took 369 tin cans and two months to complete the jacket, cap, briefcase, and chain around his neck. Read more on p.3. PHOTO: Marti Will
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