‘It is time for the NW 405 municipal manager, Dr Nomathemba-Blaai Mokgethi, to pack her bags and go.’ These were the harsh words from the DA caucus chairperson, Hans-Jurie Moolman.
From when she started in Tlokwe during the 2014/2015 financial year until now, unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure has increased by 23 per cent, he says. In 2014/2015 it amounted to R694 696 000 and, in 2015/2016, it had increased to R845 419 554.
‘This amounts to hundreds of thousands of rands less to spend on service delivery in our poorest communities and on job creation.
With the unemployment rate increasing by 2,6 per cent in the past year, we are facing a jobs crisis in our province.
The money wasted by Tlokwe, under Mokgethi, could have created thousands of jobs instead,’ Moolman said in a statement.
The DA is of the view that, rather than taking responsibility for her actions, Mokgethi and the ANC are now targeting officials and trying to make them the scapegoats for her failures as the city’s accounting officer.
The DA argues that the latest step against the MM is a response to:
• The damning management report from the Auditor-General that was released two weeks ago, which revealed the complete lack of accountability and shocking evidence of poor management.
• The huge illegal contracts for paraffin of R58 million per year purchased at double the regulated price, which the DA has consistently pointed out as violations of the law.
• The unauthorised smart meter contract signed with I4 Power Technologies and the recent contract for more than R13 million for a telephone system have huge financial implications. They were approved and signed off on behalf of the municipal council without any allocated budget, without following the legally prescribed supply chain process and without council approval.
‘To date, there has been no consequence management because politically and factionally aligned cadres are protected,’ he said.
According to Moolman, certain municipal officials have been retained at all costs, subsequent to investigations by the president’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) showing that officials might be involved in serious corruption. In other instances, officials are protected from prosecution or disciplinary action.
‘We demand that Dr Nomathemba Blaai-Mokgethi, as the chief executive officer of our municipality, takes responsibility for the devastation that has been caused by her management and resigns with immediate effect.’
Blaai-Mokgethi responded to calls for her resignation by saying she would not lose focus by being attacked without any basis.
‘I work well with most councillors of the opposition because they treat me with respect but I think councillor Moolman has a problem with me because I am a woman in charge. However, I have taken the stance that they can say what they want as long as I know my side of things is clear. No council meeting goes by without him attacking and disrespecting me,’ she said.
According to her, the amount of R845 419 554 in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure is misleading as there is almost R300 million that has been carried over since 2007 without being approved, condoned or dealt with by council. Although the council has subsequently condoned and approved this amount, it only happened on 6 July, a week after the end of the financial year.
‘It could, therefore, not be subtracted from this year’s AG report but it will be deducted from the total of the next financial year,’ she explained. She noted that, in real terms, the amount of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure is closer to R500 million than 800 million.
