The North West Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance has resolved to direct the MEC for Local Government, Lena Miga, to investigate the possibilities of interdicting the usage of the Mamusa Municipal Bank Account at Schweizer-Reneke. The decision was taken during a meeting with the management of the municipality in Mahikeng.
The portfolio committee summoned the municipal authorities, following allegations of rampant fraud and corruption within the municipality.
The embattled Mamusa Municipality, which is reportedly characterised by allegations of rampant fraud and corruption, has two municipal managers.
The new council that was elected in November last year is also reported to have had nine council meetings since its establishment.
On the agenda was mainly the suspensions and appointments of senior officials. The situation then prompted the legislature’s portfolio committee on local government, to summon those in authority.
Both the mayor, speaker and two municipal managers were in attendance.
However, the speaker, Olebeng Mogorosi, staged a walkout, protesting the attendance of other role players invited.
When making presentation to the committee, Mamusa Municipal Mayor, Mittah Chelechele, attributed the situation in her municipality to corruption.
“I know why we are here. I know why Mamusa is at this stage. It is because of the money of the people. The situation that we are facing now with two acting municipal managers arouse when the times we were supposed to receive equitable shares,” says Chelechele.
A local civic organisation, which was also invited, Centre for Good Governance and Social Justice, also made a presentation.
Its Executive Director, Boyce Mpembe says they have engaged the Human Rights Commission about the situation in their municipality.
“The Human Rights Commission comes there because their infighting leads us to have some serious problems of sewer spillages, rubbish lying all over; electricity not working; inconsistency in supply of water and so on – basically, a total collapse of a municipality,” says Mpembe.
Members of the portfolio committee have also weighed on the Mamusa situation.
“I think what we are seeing here is an issue of politics and power play more than anything, and unfortunately, this power play and politics … it is the people that are suffering. Also politicians interfering in administrative processes,” says DA’s Freddy Sonakile.
“The problems at Mamusa as I want to begin to engage them, do not only relate to politics, but they also is a matter of finances. The people of Mamusa are suffering because at one point there was a case of money that was meant for servicing people of Mamusa with electricity. I think R12 million. It never reached the people of Mamusa. It ended up in the pockets of leadership,” says ANC’ Mmoloki Cwaile.
Chairperson for the portfolio committee, Aaron Motswana, called for action against the municipality.
“One of the resolutions that the committee has arrived at, is to direct the MEC for Local Government to possibly investigate a possibility of interdicting the usage of that particular account. We detected from this particular meeting that it’s a free for all in that municipality. So, we can’t have monies of the public being utilised by all and sundry, up until we have resolved who is the rightfully appointed Acting Municipal Manager,” says Aaron Motswana.
The committee says action of interdicting the municipal account must be enforced within the next seven days.
VIDEO: Troubled Mamusa placed under administration
