Following community outcry over explosive allegations of job rigging to benefit ANC insiders, the mayor of Thaba Chweu local municipality in Mpumalanga has halted a controversial recruitment process.
This dramatic U-turn follows a leaked list showing names of allegedly preselected candidates, complete with ward numbers — an alleged blueprint of cadre deployment disguised as recruitment within the Mashishing-based municipal headquarters.
The list, widely circulated on social media, has triggered fury from the Thaba Chweu Residents Association (TRA) and the Thaba Chweu Graduates Forum.
In a scathing statement, the association and the forum accused Fridah Nkadimeng, the mayor, and municipal manager Roy Makwakwa of turning the municipality into a private job agency for politically connected individuals.
Municipality denies existence of list
“It’s not recruitment; it’s political patronage,” the TRA charged. “The people of Thaba Chweu will not sit quietly while the municipality is turned into a personal employment agency for connected elites.”
The TRA claimed to have knowledge of individuals who received their appointments prior to the actual interviews.
The association dismissed the municipality’s earlier denial as “dismissive, arrogant, and an insult to the community’s intelligence”.
Earlier in the day, municipal spokesperson Themba Sibiya defended the municipality’s position.
“The public is reminded that any correspondence for public knowledge and consumption must bear the signature of the accounting officer for authenticity,” said Sibiya.
“We therefore deny the existence of an alleged list in the name of the municipality through the executive mayor and any purported malpractice.”
Hiring process suspended
Cornered by public pressure, Nkadimeng dashed to a local radio station on Tuesday night, where she categorically denied the allegations but admitted that the public backlash had forced the municipality to suspend the process.
“We released a statement regarding this issue, but we felt compelled to visit the local radio station to clarify the situation. The allegations levelled against us are simply not true,” Nkadimeng told listeners.
“We advertised vacancies, and every guideline was followed. We appeal to the community not to believe any of the allegations spreading all over social media.”
Despite the denials, Nkadimeng conceded that the process could not continue.
“Due to the mess created, we made a decision to stop the recruitment process and launch an investigation into the matter.”
Meanwhile, ANC insiders confirmed to Sunday World that shortly after the party clinched a by-election victory in Sabie last week, a meeting was convened at the Mashishing municipal offices where the names of ANC volunteers were selected for advertised posts.
“Yes, our members should benefit from job opportunities,” said one whistleblower.
“But it is immoral to give all job opportunities to card-carrying members only, at the exclusion of the broader community we are mandated to serve.”
Threat to shut down municipality
The TRA declared in a statement: “Sanitised press statements hiding behind ‘procedures’ will not silence us while corruption thrives behind closed doors.”
The association warned that unless the municipality “implements a fair, transparent, and community-inclusive hiring process”, residents should prepare for a total shutdown of municipal operations.
This scandal follows a previous controversy that rocked Thaba Chweu over the appointment of Mzwakhe Mogane — an allegedly unqualified individual — as a unit manager.
The provincial department of traditional affairs and cooperative governance, as well as the municipality, have yet to publicly explain how that appointment came to be.
The TRA did not mince words: “This municipality has become a complete disaster — an embarrassment.
“[It has become] a banana municipality run by people who clearly disregard the law, the public, or even basic competence.”
