MOKOPANE – NO ONE is sure who the legal mayor of Mogalakwena is, after the events that unfolded last week.
Speaking on behalf of the Mogalakwena Residents’ Association, Thintha Mokhonoana, said chaos ensued at the municipality last Monday when more than 50 police officials arrived at the municipality and allegedly forced their way into the council chambers. They were accompanied by former mayor, Tlhalefi Mashamaite.
He said mayor Malose Mabuela, councillors and municipal employees were forced to leave the building, and municipal property such as computers and documents were also seized by the police.
On the following day (Tuesday), Mabuela and municipal manager, Willie Kekana approached the court for an urgent court order to reinstate them. By last Wednesday, Mabuela, Kekana, councillors and municipal employees were able to return to work, after the court granted them their urgent court order.
The preliminary court order on which the police were acting when they stormed the municipality will only be considered to be made permanent on November 18.
Reacting to allegations that the police acted illegally and had political motives, provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, said the police had to resort to extreme measures to remove the councillors from the municipality as they were illegally occupying the municipal offices.
“Earlier this year, a number of members from the Mogalakwena Municipality were dismissed from their posts. They fought their dismissal in court, but the court upheld their dismissal, meaning that they were illegally occupying the municipal offices,” Otto said.
She said despite numerous requests and opportunities offered to them to leave the premises voluntarily, they refused to do so.
Municipal spokesperson, Malesela Selokela, said earlier this week that the only mayor of Mogalakwena he acknowledged was Mabuela, who was elected during a council meeting that took place on April 17.
Mokhonoana, said the action by the police was by the association as a coup d’état.
These sentiments were echoed by DA Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle.
By the time of going to print, Mabuela, Kekana and their councillors were still ensconced in their municipal offices, and it was business as usual, Mokhonoana said.
The outcome of the court hearing to make the court order against Mabuela and his councillors will determine who the legal mayor is on November 18.
