Contempt of the Public Protector case opened against Dr JS Moroka Municipality Speaker Dipuo Mahlangu

The Office of the Public Protector has opened a case at the Brooklyn Police Station for contempt of the Public Protector against the Speaker of Dr. JS Moroka Local Municipality in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga.  

Dipuo Mahlangu was served with subpoena notices on three occasions but failed to avail herself.  

Mahlangu was due to give evidence and produce documents in relation to an investigation into allegations of the irregular appointment of an acting municipal manager and maladministration levelled against her.  

The Public Protector Spokesperson Oupa Segalwe.  
 
“Mahlangu was served with subpoena notices in June, July and September to appear in person before the Public Protector. She failed to avail herself on all three occasions. No apology was received in respect of the first hearing. With regard to the second hearing, a WhatsApp text was received from her office, claiming she had been admitted to hospital. However, no medical certificate was provided. On the last attempt, an aide of Ms. Mahlangu’s contacted the Public Protector, informing the office that the Speaker could not attend as she had been summoned to Nelspruit by the African National Congress.” 

Meanwhile, Mkhwebane says she hopes that remedial action will be taken following her report on the poor state of health facilities in four provinces.

The report, which focused on Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal was released on Friday.

In Limpopo, Mkhwebane inspected Knobel Hospital outside Polokwane in September last year. She found that the hospital administration violated health protocols in a COVID-19 ward.

Other problems that Mkhwebane’s team identified at the hospital included weak infrastructure and neglected laundry services.

Mkhwebane says she has recommended that the Limpopo Health Department take remedial action.

“We came to the conclusion that with regards to appropriate remedial action the department must take appropriate steps to ensure that within the 2021, 2022 and 2023, the department must finalise the relocation of the X-ray room, complete the establishment of the laundry sorting area, continuation of the infrastructure renewal program routine maintenance of the hospital premises and grounds, address labour relations matters between management and staff.”