Tough times ahead for Madibeng council Setumo Stone, 21 June 2013, 06:58 ANC North West chairman Supra Mahumapelo. Picture: SOWETAN ANC will have to act against public officials who harm its image, writes Setumo Stone Share Article: HEADS are expected to roll in North West’s troubled African National Congress (ANC)-led Madibeng local municipality after its council last week approved the appointment of a ministerial support team to, among others, conclude all outstanding criminal and financial mismanagement investigations. The intervention by Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi is expected to put an end to the political turmoil in the municipality, which had seen allegations of a firearm being pulled out in council chambers. But the period would also test how quick the ruling ANC would move to bring to book councillors and public officials whose conduct could harm its image — as emphasised at the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung. For now, Mr Baloyi’s intervention has ensured that the municipality is not placed under administration for the second time in two years. Madibeng mayor Poppy Magongwa is relieved and says she is keen to see the mess dealt with swiftly. "If it was up to me, I would see this process through in 14 days." Madibeng was among the eight North West municipalities placed under administration in 2009 and 2010. It was also among the 24 municipalities listed for proclamation in 2009 for investigation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). A handover report of former administrator Eric Matlawe, who stepped down when Ms Magongwa assumed office after the municipal elections in May 2011, found that governance had suffered because the role of the former executive mayor was "destructive" and councillors were not co-operative. Mr Matlawe recommended, among others, that consideration be made to extend the scope and period of the proclamation for the SIU to continue its investigations and finalise its report. But Mr Matlawe’s recommendations have not been implemented. Instead, noted the provincial government last year, some of the advances made by the administrator, including the suspension of officials suspected of financial mismanagement and criminal conduct, have been reversed. This prompted the provincial government to place Madibeng under administration again. The aggrieved councillors challenged the move in court, leading to Mr Baloyi stepping in and appointing a ministerial task team to establish the facts. The council has now adopted Mr Matlawe’s recommendations, as instructed by Mr Baloyi, despite allegations that a strong power bloc in the ANC has tried to delay the approval. Three senior municipal officials — who could not be named until they are charged — will be investigated for financial mismanagement and possible corruption. According to those who have seen Mr Baloyi’s full report, the administrator has also raised questions about the more than R1m payout to former municipal manager Philly Mapulane, who is now a member of the ANC national executive committee. A high-ranking ANC councillor would also be probed over allegations that he had received two salaries from the municipality, one as an employee and another as a councillor, as well as an overseas trip he had paid for irregularly using municipal funds. But others have protested that the councillor was not the only one earning a double salary, and that he was being targeted because he belonged to a different faction in the ANC. Last year, Madibeng reportedly paid R40,000 into the account of a company owned by North West ANC provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo. With the municipality struggling to pay its debts, including a R400m loan from the Public Investment Corporation and R60m from the Tshwane metro, it had raised concerns whether the funds allegedly granted to Mr Mahumapelo could be justified. Mr Mahumapelo’s political detractors would want the SIU investigation, if extended, to cover this period. Madibeng could be seen as a microcosm of South Africa’s so-called two-tier economy. At the upper end it includes the swanky areas around Hartbeespoort Dam — a famous tourist destination. At the lower end it includes Nkaneng, the hot-spot informal settlement in the continuing mine killings at Marikana. That gap will take longer to be bridged if the shenanigans in the local municipality persist.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 07:46:12 +0000