Upon releasing this report on Monday at the Rustenburg Civic Centre, Mokgoro said the investigation by the Maluleke Commission of Inquiry scrutinised the transactions and the financial affairs of the Traditional Council and its companies. Following the damning report by the commission, he further announced that in terms of his powers, he will appoint a person to take control of the affairs of the council. Mokgoro was ordered by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to at least release a portion of the report regarding the affairs of Bakgatla and the other clan after Julius Mogale, from the Bapo Ba Mogale clan, applied for a court interdict preventing the release of the report in June this year. Mokgoro says after having read the report, he accepted the recommendations as contained therein.

He adds that this person who will be appointed to deal with the affairs to the council will exercise the powers of the traditional council, including to establish systems and processes for accounting by Bakgatla companies; consulting, accounting and reporting to the community. Mokgoro’s spokesperson, Vuyisile Ngesi, on Monday told OFM News that due to the ill health of the commissioner of the inquiry, the signing off of the report was delayed as he couldn’t sign it because of his ill health. He added that the premier's office went through the whole report Sunday night to determine which portion of the report could be released, excluding the Bapo Ba Mogale portion, following the court ruling.

“The basis upon which the commission was established on 15 June 2016 was based on the numerous complaints received by the Office of the Premier at the time; ranging from a lack of transparency, accountability and failure by either design or omission to comply with enabling legislation. Having considered all the submitted issues, ranging from governance to administration, including the issues of traditional leadership; consideration was therefore made to craft inclusive Terms of Reference to guide the mandate of the commission, as well as to take into account all issues raised,” says Mokgoro. “It was as a result of such an effort that Bakgatla Ba Kgafela availed themselves to duly participate in the whole process and avail all the necessary and supporting documents to assist the commission,” he further adds.

OFM News