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The Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, long plagued by corruption, is shifting gears towards a new era of transparency and accountability. In a press briefing held on Thursday, the newly appointed Executive Mayor, Suzan Nthangeni, along with Speaker of the Council Lucky Madiba, Single Whip of Council Mpho Moeketsane, and Acting Municipal Manager Dr. Auchalie Mothupi, addressed the media, vowing to tackle corruption decisively.
The strong four-member panel acknowledged the deep-rooted corruption that has marred the municipality in recent years, including the controversial R134 million mistakenly deposited into the municipality’s bank account. Another major point of discussion was the recent arrest of four former municipal employees, highlighting the administration’s commitment to rooting out corruption.
The accused, Thabo Molefe (39), Sello Molefe (42), Mmabatho Modiba-Molefe (43), and Sibusiso Mogale (44), were apprehended by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation Unit on 27th and 28th July 2024. Arrests were made in Rustenburg, Vereeniging, and Pretoria following an investigation into alleged fraud and money laundering.
The case against the accused, who appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 29 July 2024, stems from a fraud case registered by the municipality in July 2022. An internal audit had uncovered irregular payments made to a mobile network provider, revealing a loss of R1.7 million between 2017 and 2020. However, further investigation by the Hawks revealed that the total loss amounted to over R3.8 million, which was funneled into a fraudulent account linked to Matsempe Holdings (Pty) Ltd, where one of the accused, Sello Molefe, is the sole director.
In response to these revelations, Acting Municipal Manager Dr. Auchalie Mothupi vowed that more heads would roll as the municipality adopts a zero-tolerance stance toward corruption. “This administration is committed to restoring integrity and ensuring that those responsible for corruption are held accountable,” he stated.
Echoing this sentiment, Executive Mayor Suzan Nthangeni outlined several measures to curb corruption within the municipality. These include tightening procurement policies, appointing new managers, and restructuring the Executive Council with fresh leadership.
The new Members of the Executive Council announced are:
- Cllr W Sono – Budget and Treasury
- Cllr K Moleko – Community Development Services
- Cllr T Thoboke – Corporate Support Services
- Cllr V Makhaula – Technical Services
- Cllr Moalusi – Sport Arts and Culture
- Cllr A Selebogo – Local Economic Development
- Cllr I Msoki – Development and Town Planning
- Cllr T Kibini – Health and Environment
- Cllr T Mangoathe – Rural Development and Agriculture
- Cllr M Karanni – Special Projects
The Executive Mayor emphasized that these appointments mark a new chapter for the municipality, one focused on transparency, ethical governance, and service delivery. The residents of Bojanala can expect a more accountable and responsive municipal government as the fight against corruption intensifies.
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