Dirk Kotze, flanked by fellow DA councillors, Mokgadi Kganakga and Tjaart van der Walt, laid the charges of maladministration at the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein in the Free State. 

The DA has long threatened to criminally hold Mea liable after an investigative report by two senior counsels (SC), led by Tebogo Manye (SC) and Johan Nel (SC) - presented in council in July 2021 - found that most charges of maladministration and misconduct against Mea were substantiated.

Dirk Kotze says the DA previously lodged a complaint with the Acting Executive Mayor, Lebohang Masoetsa, on 9 February 2021 regarding allegations of maladministration and misconduct against Mea, who was later suspended after the council agreed to place him on suspension pending the investigation.

OFM News previously reported that Mea resigned to allegedly escape the council's disciplinary action against him. Members of the council held a closed council sitting where they were set to decide whether to pursue charges against Mea, or not, and whether to adopt the investigative report regarding Mea’s alleged maladministration and misconduct. 

In total, 48 council members are said to have voted against the DA’s motion to pursue disciplinary action against Mea, who has since tendered his resignation in June 2021 after he was suspended by the council in May 2021, and only 32 voted in favour of the motion. Mea was accused of maladministration and misconduct following complaints from the opposition parties in council about the deterioration of service delivery and the financial stability of the municipality.

OFM News