The DA in Letsemeng has called on the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to intervene in the troubled municipality.

The call for Cogta MEC Ketso Makume’s intervention comes amidst the latest developments of Dineo Tsikang being reinstated as acting municipal manager. Letsemeng DA Councillor Thabo Nthapo said municipal workers downed tools on Monday (11/9) after Speaker Xolani Mthukwane postponed a council meeting.

It's understood the council meeting was supposed to address issues surrounding the nonpayment of workers’ pension funds and objection to Tsikang being re-appointment as the Acting MM, among others.

Nthapo said on Thursday (31/9), Kadimo Masenkoane was removed as the MM after Cogta seconded Mthukwane, who ruled on the matter without a quorum. He said Tsikang was reinstated as acting MM, while the CFO, Sethembile Tooi, was suspended pending an investigation on fleet procurement.

“The speaker has issued an invitation for another Special Council Meeting to revoke all council resolutions made on 31 August. This situation arises following an investigation by the South African Police Services' Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) into a R40 million tender awarded to a Bloemfontein-based company in August last year, with excavation work already in progress, implicating the previous acting MM and Technical Director, Dineo Tsikang.”

Nthapo added the council showed negligence by failing to address the vacant director positions, allowing director contracts to lapse without extension, and leaving previous employees on the banking account, including Tsikang, who has not been removed after her acting period as MM ended. This is a matter of accountability. 

Meanwhile, the DA is expected to table a motion of no confidence against Mthukwane.

OFM News has sent an inquiry to the Letsemeng mayor and is awaiting answers.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi