The Matjhabeng Community Forum convened a mass march through the streets of Welkom on Wednesday, 11 December, to call on the police’s Special Investigation unit (SIU) and the Hawks to investigate the mismanagement of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
They handed over memorandums, pleading with law enforcement and the mining houses to step in.
In the memorandum, the forum asked the minister and his team to appoint a forensic team and that the Hawks and the SIU investigate the following:
1. The previous executive mayor and previous municipal manager must be held accountable for the misuse of public funds in their attempts to appeal contempt of court orders. Also the over R200 million of public money that was irregularly spent on a Gauteng law firm on lost cases. They demand that the money be recovered while disciplinary processes are explored.
2. Investigations into the recently procured fleet of over R300 million. They state that it is suspected that this procurement is secondhand because most of the fleet is unable to be registered as it was apparently owned by other municipalities in the North West and Limpopo, and were allegedly auctioned before being refurbished for Matjhabeng. Purportedly, there is proof behind this claim.
3. The irregular awarding of a uniform tender which cost the municipality millions of rands must be investigated.
4. The alleged irregular payments to Poloko Consulting (a company linked to the executive mayor) for work not done must also be investigated. Again, proof thereof is claimed.
5. Investigations into unfinished projects by Oarabile (Pty) Ltd., linked with the executive mayor. Recently, two children drowned where the company was working.
6. Investigations into a rogue unit established in the public safety department. Some members of the unit are allegedly carrying out special programmes on the ANC leadership, employees, and the general public on the instruction of the executive mayor.
7. Investigations into a company, BKND, where the executive mayor and two officials are directors. The company has allegedly received over R33 million from government subcontracting jobs.
8. Investigations into irregular appointments of several employees linked to the executive mayor. Furthermore, positions not in the municipality structure have been filled by his loyalists, causing council to spend money not budgeted for. The municipality’s salary bill has been bloated by these irregular appointments.
9. Investigation into the appointment of the company of Cllr Mojalefa Buti, MMC of Local Economic Development (LED), to the Aurex solar project where he sits as a project liaison officer representing the municipality.
10. Investigation into an official of the Matjhabeng municipality, Mpho Pitso, who has or is receiving two salaries from the same institution.
11. Investigation into Mathabo Leeto’s, MEC for Social Development, house that was allegedly built by her company which is believed to have been receiving money from government and those doing business with the government.
12. The executive mayor’s alleged R4 million bribe demand from the two security companies, Puleletso Security and Investigation and MC Security, must be thoroughly investigated.
13. The alleged ownership by the executive mayor of a house built by a service provider in Riebeeckstad, including other officials in the municipality.
14. Investigations into ghost Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers who are employed by the office of the executive mayor.
15. Investigations into the R62 million that was approved and paid for by the provincial Department of Human Settlement for the upgrading of infrastructure in Eldorie, Odendaalsrus. The project was meant to address the plight of land restitution beneficiaries with houses to be constructed.
Other issues on the table include employment and community issues like sport and interaction with the youth and ordinary community members. They also want poverty alleviation programmes addressed, and that the mining houses should consider contributing with food hampers to communities surrounding Matjhabeng. Also, the way the mines do business with the community’s and the issue of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), non-profit companies (NPCs), and non-profit organisations (NPOs). The forum says the Harmony mining company should donate its unused property, building, sports facilities, and land to the NPOs, community, and other stakeholders where there is a need.
