State law advisor to investigate Matlala misconduct allegations

The state law advisor has been appointed as the investigator to probe allegations of misconduct against Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala. 

During a special council meeting that was held on Friday, the appointment of the investigator was marked as a confidential item, where the gallery was once more instructed to leave. 

The Speaker Dipuo Peters stated that the investigator would be given 30 days upon receipt of the appointment letter in which to provide a report on their findings. 

“A decision on the way forward will be made regarding the municipal manager based on the outcome of the findings,” said Peters.

She indicated that the investigation would examine the “veracity of a litany of allegations”. 

"The office of the state law advisor has the necessary resources to deal with the report," Peters indicated.

Matlala was placed on precautionary suspension on September 16 following an outcry from civic organisations and an urgent motion that was submitted by the FF+ on August 26, urging for his suspension pending an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct, maladministration and possible corruption. 

It called for an investigation into, among others, irregular appointments as well as the R6, 8 million payment made to Kapa Koni Investments  for the upgrading of the Eagle Street and Legaeng pump stations, which are currently out of order. 

The FF+ believed that the integrity and credibility of the municipality were at stake due to the allegations and financial implications of the actions of the municipal manager. 

Council resolved to place Matlala on precautionary suspension, despite misgivings from the DA and Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum, which pointed out that no hard evidence was provided to justify the precautionary suspension, other than allegations from the community and media reports.

Both the DA and PA abstained from voting when the precautionary suspension was discussed.