City unites against crony tenders and political allies

Civic groups, political parties and trade unions are calling for the suspension of Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala, after a media exposé linked him to allegations of undue influence and tenders for friends.

According to the Public Protector Northern Cape provincial representative Mlungisi Khanya, the investigation into alleged irregular payments made to service providers by Sol Plaatje municipality, was still continuing. 

Tenders under the spotlight include a R25.8 million tender for the upgrading of the Eagle Street and Legaeng pump stations in Roodepan as well as an electrification project in Lerato Park in 2021.

The former acting director of infrastructure and services, Phetole Sithole, was suspended in 2023, shortly after he refused to approve a R4.2 million payment due to the apparent non-compliant status of a contractor and suspicions that supply chain management processes were flouted. 

An additional R2.2 million was paid for the site establishment at the pump stations in 2022.

A few weeks after Sithole’s suspension, municipal manager Thapelo Matlala – then acting as director of infrastructure and services – signed off on the R4.2 million payment for the pump stations.

An amount of R500,000 was deducted from the main amount, to pay the SA Revenue Service (Sars) on behalf of the service provider, to assist them in becoming tax compliant

In an explanation provided to the Public Protector, Matlala indicated that payments were only made to the contractors for work completed. 

He added that legal action against the appointment of the contractors was not pursued by the municipality upon the advice of “independent legal advisors who pointed to poor prospects of success”.

FF+ submits urgent motion

The FF+ submitted an urgent motion on August 26 to council advising that the municipal manager be suspended pending an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct, maladministration and possible corruption. 

FF+ councilor Johan Smit pointed out that in July, the municipality was ordered to pay Kapa Koni Investments R6.8 million for the upgrading of the Eagle Street and Legaeng pump stations, in terms of an arbitration ruling.

“These allegations and financial implications place the integrity and credibility of the municipality at serious risk,” said Smit.

The FF+ requested that permanent appointments approved by the municipal manager since May 1 be set aside and provisionally frozen.as they could be deemed to be “irregular or self-serving".

The motion was put in abeyance and is expected to be discussed at the next council meeting.

Calls for residents to unite

Tumelo Mosikare from the Sol Plaatje Community Forum found the hesitancy to act against the municipal manager to be disturbing.

“We thought that council would take decisive action in light of the damning report in the Sunday World Newspaper. The appointment of officials from other provinces, the legal cases that were filed after service providers were appointed without following the correct procedures must be investigated.

"Yet it is business as usual. Officials cannot do as they please.” 

He pointed out that the former manager of Sol Plaatje Municipality's Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI), Winston Lucky Moyahi, was forced to take special leave following his first court appearance in connection with the Northern Cape Mental Health Hospital case in May.  

“Potential witnesses stand to be intimidated while the municipal manager remains in his position. Moyahi’s charges were unrelated to the municipality. Due to the actions of the municipal manager and the non-functioning sewerage pump stations, the drains in Roodepan are constantly blocked and sewage is running down the streets.” 

Mosikare invited community members and civic organisations to a meeting to discuss Sol Plaatje municipality on August 28 at 7pm. 

“We need to stand together to save what is left of the city,” Mosikare declared.

Meanwhile, the South African Municipal Workers Union of South Africa (Samwu) called for the removal of the municipal manager during a meeting at the city hall on August 26.

The trade union pointed out that all “people should be equal before the law” whereby the allegations contained in the Sunday World report were incriminating. 

“If any of our members are charged, they are immediately suspended although this does not apply to the municipal manager. We will write a letter to the mayor.” 

They are also aggrieved that officials are being appointed from outside the province.

“We wake up to find a new face where you can hear from their accents that they are not from  here.” 

Revelations of shady business deals

EFF caucus leader Pontsho Mocwana stated that the Sunday World report exposed shortcomings in municipal governance and oversight. 

“We are appalled by the revelations of shady business deals, corruption and maladministration within the Sol Plaatje municipality. The municipal manager must be immediately suspended pending a thorough investigation. Consequences must follow for those found guilty of wrongdoing. Financial mismanagement and collaborations between friends who are dishing our tenders, can negatively impact the municipality.” 

DA councilors argued, however, that the municipal manager could not be suspended in the absence of tested evidence or a court ruling. 

Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum councilor Dennis Pienaar said they would await the necessary evidence.

“If the municipal manager is found to have transgressed the regulations, he should step down.” 

ACDP councilor Roddy Loff  advised that appropriate legal action should be taken to prevent mismanagement. 

“The matter of overpayment of around R2.3 million to a former service provider took Sol Plaatje municipality to court. was never reported to council by the administration.”

Municipal manager instructed to submit a report 

Spokesperson for the Office of the mayor Keobakile Musunse indicated that the executive mayor Martha Bartlett had instructed the municipal manager to submit a report in response to the article published in the Sunday World. 

“Upon receipt of the report, she will assess its contents and determine the appropriate course of action.”  

She added that once the legal dispute with Kapa Koni Investments was resolved, a new contractor would be appointed to complete the upgrading of the pump stations. 

Musunse explained that the contract terminated due to poor performance by the contractor. 

“The Eagle Street pump station is 63.5 percent complete and the Legaeng pump station stands at 62 percent.  Kapi Koni Investments completed 51 percent of the work at both plants and was paid R12.1 million,” she said.

Kapa Koni Investments did not wish to comment,