A controversial city manager who was fired for financial misconduct corrruption from the Bitou municipality in Plettenberg Bay in 2012, has recently been appointed as municipal manager to the most corrupt municipality in the Free State.
Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo will be the Matjhabeng municipality’s municipal manager from January 2023.
This municipality is the Free State municipality where the Hawks’ investigations relating to corruption are most prevalent, and has is burdened with debt of R5.5 billion are busy with the most corruption investigations and the Free State municipality with the largest debt burden of R5.5 billion.
Ngoqo was fired in 2012 after he was found guilty in a disciplinary hearing of the financial misappropriation of municipal money. At the time, Ngoqo bought a plot of land with a municipal valuation of R2.4 million for R28 million. The land was acquired for the municipality.
Ngoqo, who contested his dismissal, approached the Labour Court and later the Constitutional Court to set aside his dismissal. Both the courts found that his dismissal was justified.
Due to his conviction and dismissal in terms of municipal legislation, he could not be considered for the position of re-appointed as municipal manager for ten years. That period expired earlier this year.
Piet Botha, DA council member, says the opposition parties in Matjhabeng have unanimously decided to oppose Ngoqo’s new role appointment. A request from opposition parties for a secret ballot was rejected by the acting speaker.
Botha says it was clear that some of the ANC council members were also dissatisfied with Ngoqo’s nomination appointment for in this position.
His appointment was approved by a vote of 29 to 24.
Botha says Thanduxolo Khalipa, the mayor of Matjhabeng, wanted to carry out Ngoqo’s appointment at all costs even though Ngoqo had previously been dismissed.
Botha says the mayor promised with his inauguration that he would eradicate corruption and depoliticize the municipality.
The municipality confirmed Ngoqo’s appointment, saying he has more than 20 years of experience in local government.
“His appointment reflects the municipality’s intention to turn the institution into a professional and depoliticised institution,” says Khalipa.
