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The Bojanala Platinum District Municipality is experiencing heightened tensions as employees prepare to stage a picket outside municipal offices in response to the suspension of municipal manager, Letlhogonolo Fourie. The situation has sparked concerns over allegations of political interference within the municipality.
According to a statement from the Executive Mayor of the municipality, Matlakala Nondzaba, Fourie’s suspension is linked to payments made to companies implicated on a R134,000 scandal. The R134 000 was deposited into Bojanala Platinum District Municipality by mistake. The money was suppose to be deposited into Rustenburg Local Municipality bank account. One of the companies that received payments is owned by Moses Malesa, who was arrested this week alongside former Bojanala municipal manager Patrick Shikwane. Malesa had previously taken legal action against the municipality for non-payment, resulting in a court ruling that mandated the municipality to settle the outstanding amount with Malesa’s Legal Representative. The debt would be cleared upon confirmation that the job was done and completed.
However, concerns have been raised by certain municipal employees who wished to remain anonymous. They allege that Fourie’s suspension is not solely based on financial misconduct but is also a result of political infighting. These employees claim that Fourie has become a target in a broader political struggle, with some politicians allegedly seeking to destabilize and financially drain the municipality for their own interests.
Moreover, an insider source has revealed that the R134,000 in question implicates multiple companies, and one of these payments was authorized before Fourie assumed the role of municipal manager in December of 2022. “Surprisingly, the individual responsible for authorizing this payment has not faced suspension and is reportedly still working as a Director within the municipality,” said the source.
In response to the escalating situation, Keabetswe Bogatsu, the acting spokesperson of the municipality, announced the appointment of an acting Municipal Manager today. Bogatsu stated that Fourie’s future within the municipality will be determined after a thorough investigation is conducted. He emphasized that there is currently no planned picket or strike. “The Muncipal Manager will have the opportunity to present his case, and if cleared of any wrongdoing, he could potentially return to work in approximately one month’s time,” said Bogatsu.
As tensions mount, the community and stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, hoping for transparency and resolution in the midst of these troubling developments within the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality.
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