Mojalefa Buti, member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for local economic development, who reportedly co-owns a company with his wife, stands accused of unduly awarding the lucrative solar farm tender to this company. Reports reveal the project was managed by an eight-member municipal adjudication committee, which was chaired by Buti himself, raising questions about the integrity of the tender process.

At a media briefing on Wednesday (3/9) in Welkom, acting municipal manager Adv. Lauretta Williams sought to clarify the municipality’s position on the matter.

Mojalefa Buti. Photo: X

“The project is privately initiated and funded. Matjhabeng is not involved in the procurement of services by private businesses, and any contracts concluded between private parties fall entirely outside the scope of municipality procurement processes and legislative framework.” Williams’ statement aimed to separate the municipality from the procurement process, emphasising that the tender and project were outside the municipality’s formal operations.

Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha urged the public to refrain from premature judgments. 

“The acting municipal manager has explained it’s a private matter, but we are also doing our internal investigation to make sure we can get more information on the matter and make sure we can report to our people that this is how we have dealt with our internal investigation.

“But the matter remains a private one. We are in the process of developing a policy on how we must relate private projects in our space and how we make sure we regulate the steering committee and all these things.”

Khalipha added that his office would soon present a draft policy to the council aimed at regulating private projects within the municipality’s jurisdiction, ensuring better oversight and governance in the future.

The EFF earlier called for a comprehensive investigation and confirmed that a criminal case has been opened against Buti. Provincial chairperson Mapheule Liphoko emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, calling for a thorough investigation into the matter is necessary and stating that Buti must be suspended to prevent potential interference.

EFF asks for disciplinary action

The EFF urged Khalipha to initiate disciplinary proceedings and suspend Buti immediately to preserve the integrity of the probe. Meanwhile, Khalipha addressed lingering issues around the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). 

He noted that the municipality has not yet finalised its report on this front, despite promising an internal investigation. The matter gained attention after the minister of public works cleared the municipality of wrongdoing and released previously withheld funds, which had been held back due to corruption allegations. 

The EPWP controversy made headlines when it was discussed before the portfolio committee on cooperative governance and traditional affairs in Bloemfontein, further highlighting the municipality’s ongoing governance challenges.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi, Refiloe Bekane cvs/mvh