The ActionSA party in the Free State has requested the Office of the Public Protector to investigate Matjhabeng mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha’s lavish lifestyle following allegations of misconduct.
It is alleged the mayor used the services of a municipal service provider for the construction of his magnificent R3.4-million mansion. It is also alleged that the daughter of the service provider is employed in Khalipha’s office.
The mayor’s alleged conduct has raised concerns about the use of public resources and a possible conflict of interest.
The ActionSA is demanding an investigation into the purported misuse of the municipality’s service provider for personal vanity projects. The party also the appointment of the service provider’s daughter to be investigated.
The party also seeks verification whether the mayor had properly declared his financial interests as required by the law.
ActionSA provincial chairperson Patricia Kopane said they raising these questions as a party as they seek transparency and accountability.
“Matjhabeng residents deserve to know the source of their mayor’s opulent lifestyle. It is sad to note that the mayor can afford to live this lavish lifestyle while this cash-strapped municipality fails to pay service providers to the extent that its fleet has been attached. It also fails to pay its employees and their benefits; service provision has come to a complete halt.”
Kopane underscored the need for a lifestyle audit for all senior state officials and officials involved in public procurement decision-making processes. This the view maintained by the ActionSA caucus in the municipality, she added.
“There should be an increase in transparency of all procurement contracts by publishing the details of awarded tenders online. This should include line-item descriptors and prices,” she said.
Long-running corruption
Kopane has accused the mayor of incompetence, saying that Khalipha should voluntarily surrender his mayoral chain should the investigation find him guilty of any misconduct.
“He has done nothing to advance the lives of Matjhabeng residents, and he has been a liability.”
Matjhabeng municipality is located in central Free State and its seat is the city of Welkom. The municipality also governs the towns of Allanridge, Hennenman, Odendaalsrus, Virginia and Ventersburg.
Accusation of corruption against the municipality and its leadership it’s not something new. In 2011, a R2-billion spending spree by an already one of the worst run municipalities was exposed. An enquiry led by then Free State MEC Mosebenzi Zwane, himself a subject of numerous corruption accusations, was set up. The inquiry blamed the financial losses and corruption on then municipal manager Ben Malakoane and his predecessor Thabo Pietersen.
In July this year, the Hawks blocked a R23-million payment from Matjhabeng to a security company accused of fraud, corruption and contravening the Municipal Finance Management Act.
