The former mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality (MLM) and now MMC of Corporate Services, Selloane Motjeane was found guilty of corruption.
This comes after an ad hoc committee found the Economic Freedom Fighter’s councillor guilty of failing to declare her business interests with the municipality and recommended a sanction of a one-month salary fine.
In recent months, Ster wrote a series of articles on the said councillor identified in dodgy grass-cutting tenders.
The revelation was unveiled in the Auditor General’s report for the 2021/22 financial year.
The report reveals that the councillor has been profiting from municipal business, a clear conflict of interest that reeks of corruption.
Following the scandal, the DA escalated the matter, to different committees in the municipality.
During an ordinary council sitting held at the embattled municipality’s offices, a jaw-dropping revelation deemed Motjeane guilty.
In a statement issued to the paper, Thulani Mbana, DA councillor at MLM welcomed the outcome, however claimed the sanction was too merciful.
“While the DA welcomes the verdict, we reject the leniency of the sanction. We [DA] call for a forensic investigation to fully uncover the extent of Motjeane’s financial gains from her undeclared business interests,” he said.
Mbana added: “We also urge the council to recommend to the free state MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (CoGTA) that Motjeane be suspended pending the investigation. In agreement with the DA’s recommendation, the council supported the call for further action.”
Mbana said the EFF continues to project an image of zero tolerance towards corruption, yet failed to act decisively against their councillor, despite a clear report from the Auditor-General.
“We remain committed to fighting against misconduct and prioritising the delivery of quality services to the community,” he said.
The EFF’s Free State Provincial Chairperson, Coach Liphoko told Ster their party noted the report.
“It’s puzzling that the same committee went on to establish if Councillor Motjeane was doing business with the municipality or not. The verdict that they got was not about whether our councillor was doing business or not,” he said.
Liphoko denied the allegations that Motjeane was part of the company that was linked with her.
“Motjeane never denied that she didn’t declare. The company Naledi Ya Miso which they investigated is not doing business with Metsimaholo. The company at hand was registered but it never went beyond CK. It does not have a business account, does not have a SARS certificate, it can’t function. Motjeane said she deregistered myself as a director in 2002,” he said.
At the time of going to print, Metsimaholo spokesperson had not responded to enquiries sent to the institution.
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