Mofokeng was appointed earlier this year after the former CFO, Ernest Mohlalo, resigned in April last year, leaving this position vacant for close to a year. The metro’s Executive Mayor, Olly Mlamleli, had in February earlier this year said that the municipality had to fill the vacancy by end of May, failing which, the National Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) would need to intervene as per the Municipal Systems Act. OFM News’ Pulane Choane reports that questions which were sent to the municipal spokesperson, Qondile Khedama, on the matter went unanswered as OFM News tried to find out if interviews that were held in February earlier this year yielded any results.

A newsletter that was issued by the metro in June this year, named “Sabata Mofokeng” as the metro’s new CFO, despite the metro not having communicated it. It remains unknown when exactly Mofokeng was appointed, however, it would seem that the appointment was made in April, which was a month prior to Mangaung’s cut-off date, as any appointment made after 30 May had to be overseen by Cogta Minister, Zweli Mkhize.

Mofokeng will have to hit the ground running as he sets out to steer the troubled municipality on the right track, following its recent downgrade from Moody’s Investors Services as well as the financial woes it faces with the water board, Bloem Water. OFM News earlier reported that the municipality, which was placed three notches deeper into junk territory, is said by the rating agency to reflect a metro that is in a rapidly declining liquidity position.

Last month, the cash-strapped municipality took its water board to court after Bloem Water threatened to impose water restrictions and supply the municipality with only 30% of its bulk water supply due to non-payment. According to the metro’s newsletter, which alerted OFM News to Mofokeng’s appointment, he and his team have already met to discuss the way forward and tackle the metro’s financial problems head-on.

Mofokeng states in the newsletter that he will focus on revenue collection in the coming financial year, as well as encouraging other departments within the metro to cut expenses and finally, also encourage residents and businesses to timeously pay their services accounts. Mofokeng previously served in the metro as a general manager in the Strategic Support Division for over six years.

Prior to that, he worked in various positions over a period of about 7 years, including at the Free State’s Ngwathe Local Municipality as well as in the North West’s Kgetleng River Local Municipality, in the same position.

OFM News