Municipal manager back in court as Sol Plaatje’s financial woes deepen

JUDGMENT was reserved in the Northern Cape High Court on Thursday, January 29, when Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala returned to court to enforce an order allowing him to return to work.

Acting Judge Thandisa Tyuthuza questioned senior advocate Patrick Ngutshana, appearing for Sol Plaatje Municipality, executive mayor Martha Bartlett and Speaker Dipuo Peters, over the failure to substantiate several claims, including allegations that Matlala had threatened staff.

Tyuthuza said it appeared that “things were done in the dark” at council, where proper procedures were not followed.

Ngutshana said Bartlett and Peters had acted on behalf of council and had a duty to protect the municipality from chaos and instability.

"They should not be held personally liable for the legal costs," he said.

He added that it was council’s discretion to withdraw the urgent interdict against Matlala and that the reasons therefore were "irrelevant”.

Matlala’s legal representative, Advocate Johann Olivier, questioned what he described as concerted efforts to curb his client’s freedom to work.

“It is an abuse of power where public funds are being used to litigate,” he said.

Olivier added that there was little prospect of success in appealing the court decision that found Matlala’s suspension to be unlawful.

“The process will likely exceed the duration of the latest 90-day suspension that was imposed on January 8,” he said.

Audits and budgets tabled by January 25 deadline

A budget of R574 million has been allocated through the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) Grant programme to upgrade water infrastructure in the city this year.

It is believed that R30 million has been set aside from the BFI fund to compensate a prominent businessman, as water pipelines need to be installed on privately owned land.

The audit report noted that the municipality was experiencing liquidity challenges and strained cash flow.

It indicated that the absorption of 497 employees had placed the municipality under “significant financial strain” and at high risk of insolvency due to high unauthorised expenditure and unfunded critical vacancies.

South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) local chairperson Ronnie Morwe said this week that the first batch of 125 casual workers who were meant to be absorbed on December 1, 2025, had yet to receive any benefits, including pension and medical aid.

He warned of further protest action should council renege on its promises.

Emergency deviation

An emergency deviation was reported under the maintenance and operations budget for the repair and maintenance of collapsed sewage pipes in Tebogo Maseng Street, Club 2000; 21 Spreeu Street; 10 Kraft Street in Roodepan; Absolom Crescent; and Barkly Road.

The one-month project was awarded to Weird Industries, a locally based company. The estimated cost was quoted at R249,546.55, with expenditure not to exceed R1.5 million.

The first-quarter draft audit report for 2025/26 red-flagged that 67% – or about 26 billion litres – of water was unaccounted for. Ritchie alone accounted for water losses of 37%.

Electricity losses were also identified, attributed to faulty meters and illegal connections.

Shortfalls of R177 million in water revenue and R64 million in electricity revenue were highlighted.

The report pointed to “persistent” unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, non-compliance with supply chain management processes, and procurement deviations.

The audit committee expressed concern that future Treasury allocations and grant funding could be withheld due to “little to no progress” on certain projects, citing, among other issues, challenges in awarding tenders and appointing contractors.

Electricity petition submitted 

Meanwhile, EFF member and student Tebogo Kaulela handed over a petition on Wednesday, January 28, calling for residents to be allowed to purchase electricity directly from Eskom and for drastic improvements in basic service delivery.

He said the petition had been signed by 227 people in Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Johannesburg and Durban.

“We have given the municipality 14 days in which to respond, failing which we will stage a march,” Kaulela said.

He has also requested the Public Protector to investigate allegations of financial misconduct at Sol Plaatje Municipality, as well as the appointment of officials with criminal records.

“Any official who is found guilty of maladministration or wasteful, irregular, fruitless or unauthorised expenditure should personally pay back the money,” he said.