Central SA
Tswelopele mayor accused of illegally occupying government house─── ZENANDE MPAME 15:50 Wed, 27 Aug 2025
The DA will submit a formal request to establish how the Tswelopele mayor was able to occupy a department house without approval.
During an oversight visit to Hoopstad, it was discovered that Tswelopele municipality mayor Kenalemang Phukuntsi is occupying a provincial government house and falsely claiming ownership. The house situated on Erf 355, Hoopstad Extension 3, remains under the administration of the Free State department of public works, roads and transport.
The party vowed to demand full accountability from both the Tswelopele Municipality and the provincial department of public works regarding the occupancy at the government house.
“It is unacceptable that while Tswelopele residents suffer from poor services,” said Free State National Council of Provinces member Dr Igor Scheurkogel. “Yet the mayor is misusing public property and altering it without approval.”
The party will approach the Special Investigating Unit to investigate the unlawful occupation and misuse of provincial government property.”
This is not the first time Phukuntsi has been in the media; in 2022, she was released on R2,000 bail for charges of five counts of theft and crimen injuria. It is alleged that she visited several shops owned by foreigners and that they were selling expired groceries.
Central News reported she allegedly took items including cosmetics, vegetables, groceries, Pampers, petrol cleaners, and diesel cleaners from their shops. The items taken from the shops were estimated to be R60 000.
Phukuntsi appeared before the parliamentary oversight visit by the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), chaired by Dr Zweli Mkhize, in July to account for governance failures plaguing the municipality.
Assault case
When questioned by an MP about an assault case, she responded: “The only case I know about is the one where I was fighting for the people of Tswelopele, where they were sold by the foreigners.
“That case has been closed, and I don’t know anything about an assault case. I have never assaulted anyone, and I will never assault anyone.”
An enquiry was sent to the municipality regarding the alleged illegal occupancy of a government house.
