Morufa Moloto, who is currently out on R15,000 bail, is facing charges of corruption linked to a 2018 laptop tender scandal. Despite this, she has been given a top financial post in one of the province’s most embattled public entities.

AfriForum’s Environmental Affairs advisor, Marais de Vaal, condemned the appointment in no uncertain terms.

“Moloto’s appointment is a shameless and reckless deployment of corrupt cadres,” said De Vaal. “It confirms that political loyalty is being elevated above competence and is therefore fuelling the collapse of service delivery in this province.”

Moloto’s legal troubles stem from her tenure as the CFO of Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality, where she allegedly awarded a tender for eight laptops to a company owned by her partner, Letladi Ramokora, in exchange for bribes. The Hawks arrested them both in June 2024, but she remains out on bail. 

Despite this, she was appointed CFO of Madibeng Local Municipality in January 2023 and then promoted to acting municipal manager in April 2024.

In that same month, Moloto and several senior officials, including the mayor and municipal manager of Madibeng, were suspended due to allegations of procurement irregularities amounting to millions of rands and widespread financial mismanagement.

De Vaal pointed out the dire condition of the North West Parks and Tourism Board, which he described as being “on the brink of collapse”. 

He noted that the board has had six acting CEOs in just six months, none of whom were properly appointed, and that it is grappling with a severe cash flow crisis, having failed to pay staff salaries in February and March this year.

“The Parks and Tourism Board also received a disclaimer audit opinion from the Auditor-General for its 2023/24 financial statements. This means the AG was unable to confirm the reliability of the board’s figures due to missing or insufficient documentation. 

“At grassroots level, the consequences are obvious: dilapidated parks, closed lodges, a decline in visitors and failed biodiversity management.”

De Vaal further argued that Moloto’s appointment violates constitutional principles of ethical and accountable public administration.

“Moloto’s appointment, despite unresolved corruption complaints and a record of financial misconduct, not only violates the constitutional principles, but also appears to be procedurally illegal if proper vetting was ignored.”

Formal investigation

AfriForum has announced that it will launch a formal investigation into the appointment. This will include a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain the full appointment report, candidate scorecards, vetting documentation and the official council resolution confirming her hiring.

De Vaal said if irregularities are found, further legal action will be considered, adding that the organisation will also demand a public explanation from Bitsa Lenkopane, North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism.

Meanwhile, the board’s Chairperson, Adv. Matshidiso Mogale, may also face legal action over what AfriForum calls “repeated evasion of oversight responsibilities.”

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg