The spokesperson for the utility, Lele Mamatu, tells OFM News the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality's Council quietly appointed a new board on 28 October 2020 as the previous board’s term came to an end this year. The incumbent board’s three-year tenure kicked off on 1 November. Myeni isn’t the only Centlec board director, shrouded in controversy, that has lost their directorship.

The former Head of the Free State Department of Human Settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi, who is now an accused in the controversial asbestos audit criminal case, is also no longer the Chairperson of the Mangaung Metro utility’s board. 

Mokhesi’s role as the Chairman has been taken over by Kenosi Moroka. Moroka and Chose Choeu both previously occupied seats on the board and have survived the change. Myeni, who recently drew controversy for revealing the name of a key witness known as "Mr X” at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, was recently declared a delinquent director for life by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in May 2020. 

Judge Ronel Tolmay found Myeni to be unfit to hold any directorships in any entity for the rest of her life, implying the need for her to vacate the several positions she occupied at that stage – including at Centlec.

Tolmay did offer Myeni a chance at redemption, adding that she can apply in three years from the date of the court order to have the declaration of delinquency suspended. She would, however, have to show that she has been rehabilitated

Following the declaration of her delinquency as director, the DA in Mangaung called for her removal from the board, adding that “since her appointment, the affairs of Centlec, an entity that is responsible for the distribution of power supply in the Mangaung Metro, has gone from bad to almost bankruptcy. Centlec received a qualified report from the auditor-general. In the past four years, the Centlec Board has not met on a regular basis and it is estimated that only four board meetings were held during this period”. 

Myeni has previously cited high travel costs as a result of her several directorships as a reason behind her not showing up for her court appearance in Pretoria in mid-2020. The DA in Mangaung alleged she received R274 000 per annum for her duties on the Centlec board.

The other newly appointed Centlec board members are Themba Ngubeni, Yolisa Skwintshi, Relebohile Tsiki, and Tebogo Manye.

OFM News