Since the amalgamation of six towns of Matjhabeng – Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus, Allenridge, Hennenman and Ventersburg – in 2000, the municipality has never had a municipal manager finish a five-year term of office.
Below are the names and period spent in office from 2000 to 2024.
1. Sylvester Sesele – resigned after three years.
2. Nkrumah Pitso – resigned after several months.
3. Sparks Motseki – resigned after a few months.
4. Dr Benny Malakoane – resigned after two years.
5. Dr Limakatso Moorosi (acting for eight months) – resigned.
6. Hendrik Petersen – served for two years before passing on.
7. Peter Sefuthi – served for three months. He passed on.
8. German Ramathebane – resigned after two years.
9. Adv. Mothusi Lepheana – resigned after two years.
10. Thabiso Tsoaeli – served for two years. He passed on.
11. Zingisa Tindleni – completed Tsoaeli’s contract over two years.
12. Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo – resigned after 21 months.
On 6 November, the Matjhabeng council appointed Thabo Panyani, chief financial officer (CFO), as acting municipal manager, until the position was filled within the next three months.
In five terms of office since the year 2000, there were supposed to be five municipal managers, each serving a five-year contract. However, none of the municipal managers could finish their term.
Even the CFOs were not spared.
Since the year 2000, Matjhabeng had only one CFO finishing his contract: Panyani. He is the only CFO to finish his contract and then to be re-appointed as a permanent CFO.
Since the year 2000, the following people have served as CFOs:
1. Molefi Motsie – resigned after five months.
2. Nkrumah Pitso – left to serve as municipal manager following the resignation of Sesele.
3. LB de Bruin – acted several months in rotation. He passed on in 2021.
4. Lindsey Williams – acted several months in rotation and is currently acting CFO, as of 7 November.
5. Albert Kometsi – resigned after a month.
6. Karen Stricket – resigned after three months.
7. Moses Tshivhidzo – passed on, while acting.
8. Thabiso Tsoaeli – served for two years before being appointed as municipal manager.
9. Thabo Panyani – served from 2017 to 2022, and then from 2023 to date.
