16-05-2025
DA wants STLM Speaker booted over alleged corruption ‘cover up'
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will table a motion of no confidence against Council Speaker Thato Mathunyane, for delaying the release of a forensic report into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement with the construction of the multi-million rand Mhluzi substation.
The DA will seek to remove Mathunyane, accusing him of a R200 million 'cover up.'
In a statement released by DA Councillor Palesa Mobango, she says that the DA will file the motion with Municipal Manager Mandla Mnguni on May 19, citing his failure to table the findings of the forensic report, despite calls by opposition parties for it to be released during multiple previous sittings.
According to Mobango, the report in question will detail alleged corruption, when the substation was built in Mhluzi in October 2023.
A special council will have to be called for the report to be tabled, which Mathunyane has failed to do.
During a previous sitting of council it was revealed that former Chief Financial Officer, David Mogofe, and the Executive Director for Technical and infrastructure Services Reginah Makgatha, had been placed on precautionary suspension over the above allegations.
Both have since resigned.
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The full DA statement:
On Monday, 19 May 2025, the DA in Steve Tshwete will file a motion of no confidence against the Municipal Speaker, Thato Mathunyane. This comes after the Speaker who represents the Middelburg and Hendrina Residents Front (MHRF) failed to facilitate the tabling of a forensic report.
The report in question details alleged corruption that took place when an intake substation was built in Mhluzi. In October 2023, a special council meeting was held and an internal report into the construction of this substation was tabled.
In this meeting, it was resolved that the Chief Financial Officer, David Mogofe and the Executive Director for Technical and Infrastructure Services, Reginah Makgatha, be placed on precautionary suspension immediately, together with other ex-officials implicated by the internal investigation.
It was further resolved that a team of external forensic investigators be appointed by council through the office of the Municipal Manager, to conduct a thorough investigation into all the allegations.
Although the investigation was concluded, the Speaker has failed in his duties to call a Special Council sitting to table the outcomes of the external forensic report, despite numerous calls from opposition parties.
The Speaker's conduct has allowed the ANC to get away with corruption and financial mismanagement. Steve Tshwete is technically bankrupt; therefore, the DA will not sit idle while the ANC-led administration runs this municipality to the ground.
The DA will keep fighting for a clean governance and a corrupt free municipality that will efficiently deliver services to the residents.
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