Latest news with #Coghsta
The Citizen
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
ActionSA opens corruption case against Polokwane mayor
POLOKWANE – The Limpopo police confirmed that a case of alleged tender irregularities has been registered against the Polokwane Mayor, John Mpe and other senior officials at the Polokwane Municipality by ActionSA. The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said a case was opened on Monday at the Polokwane Police Station and that it relates to alleged violations of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act for contracts awarded between January, 10, 2023 and July, 28, 2025. The case was opened by ActionSA's provincial chair Victor Mothemela, alongside fellow party members. 'We will not stand by while politically connected individuals squander the economic future of South Africans for the benefit of foreign interests,' an ActionSA statement read. 'Where there is smoke, there is fire. As the leadership of ActionSA, we have decided to open a criminal case of corruption against John Mpe and his entourage,' Mothemela told party members. Mpe is expected to provide a comprehensive report to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), today, regarding allegations of tender kickbacks, political patronage and financial maladministration in the city's municipality. He has labelled these claims as politically motivated smear tactics, denying wrongdoing and emphasised that foreign-owned companies lawfully participate in procurement processes if compliant with tax and legal requirements. The Coghsta MEC, Basikopo Makamu, told Polokwane Observer on Friday (July 25) that he wrote to Mpe inquiring about the validity of municipal financial statements being circulated on social media. Read more: Polokwane mayor faces deadline over tender kickback claims Meanwhile, Hadebe confirmed that due to the gravity of the allegations, the case opened by ActionSA has been referred to the Hawks for further action. On Friday, the EFF called for a full investigation, including possible intervention by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and called for the Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba to place the Polokwane Municipality under administration.
The Citizen
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Nkomazi Local Municipality CFO suspended
The CFO of the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Steven Thobela, has been put on suspension pending an investigation into his alleged financial misconduct. The municipality suspended Thobela with effect from last week Friday, June 13, following a council resolution that was taken at the KaMdladla Community Hall. 'The suspension stems from several allegations of financial misconduct against the CFO. The suspension will allow proper investigation to be undertaken and also allow the official to clear his name if the allegations are not true,' said the municipality's spokesperson, Mbuso Malale. Sipho Mathaba has been appointed as an acting CFO pending the finalisation of the investigations against Thobela. Malale refused to elaborate on the merits of the investigations saying it was sub-judice. Thobela's suspension comes just a month after the municipal manager (MM) Xolani Mabila resigned without giving reasons. ALSO READ: Nkomazi court sentences rapist to 12 years in jail According to Malale, the reasons for Mabila's resignation remained close to his own chest, but unconfirmed reports suggested it was related to alleged corruption within the municipality The suspension of the CFO and the resignation of the MM come in the midst of serious corruption allegations by the DA against the municipality. The DA councillor in the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Nhlonipho Dlamini, said the party urged the provincial Department of Co-operative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) to intervene in the alleged corruption within the municipality. The DA in Nkomazi will write to Coghsta to investigate municipal officials implicated in the delay of upgrading the Naas Water Treatment Works project. The project which aimed to alleviate water challenges for residents around Naas and neighbouring towns was initiated in September 2020. However, the project has cost the municipality over R39m to date and has been delayed by more than two years,' said Dlamini in a statement. 'It is understood that the project was supposed to be completed in different phases. However, according to the Auditor-General's 2023/24 Management Report, the municipality has poorly managed this project. These are some of the alarming findings that the AG flagged,' added Dlamini. 'These items include mechanical and electrical equipment to the value of R2m. The municipality stored some of the equipment to the value of R7m off-site while there is no written agreement with suppliers regarding warranty and insurance,' said Dlamini. ALSO READ: City of Mbombela sounds alarm on tender scam According to him, at some point, the contractor had halted the project due to cash flow problems and that the municipality had failed to impose penalties against the contractor. 'The municipality paid for equipment before it was procured by the contractor from the supplier (up to 15 months in advance). It was also revealed that at some point the municipality failed to efficiently dispatch water tankers to communities affected by the upgrading of the Naas water treatment works project,' Dlamini said. 'Coghsta must intervene and regulate the implementation of infrastructure projects. It cannot be business as usual while money meant for service delivery is misused,' added Dlamini At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
