ANC Cllr Molefe Morutsi and EFF Cllr Manana Bogatsu were re-elected on Tuesday (23/9) during a special council meeting convened in Mahikeng by Kopung Ralikontsane, the national government’s appointed representative to Ditsobotla. This intervention came as part of the cabinet’s efforts to address long-standing failures in the municipality, ranging from financial mismanagement to the collapse of basic service delivery.

The two were previously sworn in during a council meeting in March, a session that was later declared illegal by the North West High Court after another ANC councillor and former mayor, Mazwi Moruri, had been sworn in as mayor in January and contested the legitimacy of their election.

The court subsequently interdicted Morutsi and Bogatsu from assuming the roles of mayor and speaker, respectively. Despite this, they continued to draw executive salaries from the municipality, prompting calls for accountability.

DA MPL CJ Steyl slammed the irregular payments, saying the officials must return the money. “It’s not only status quo. The meeting of 5 March, where they were elected illegally, was then declared illegal.” They were, in fact, not really the mayor and speaker.

“The council convened as per the instructions of Minister Velebayi Hlabisa to ensure this matter is addressed within the 14 days. It is also one of the matters we raised with the minister immediately after that illegal council meeting on 5 March.”

Since the two of them have received their executive salaries irregularly, they should be paying back the additional money that they have received, “serving or pretending to be the mayor and the speaker”, said Steyl.

This intervention is a critical move to uphold legality and ensure that similar incidents do not recur, especially while the national administration team remains active in Ditsobotla, he added.

Despite the national government’s involvement, scepticism remains high among residents and the business community about the potential for genuine change.

It’s the first time the municipality has been placed under national administration.

Lichtenburg Chamber of Commerce chairman Chris Breedt voiced his frustration over years of deterioration in the town. “It’s disturbing to see the deterioration of Lichtenburg’s roads, buildings, and power and water infrastructure over the years. The situation is so bad that residents only get four hours of water a day.”

Nedbank senior economist Isaac Matshego had also expressed dismay over the governance crisis in his hometown, attributing the failure of service delivery to internal political conflicts.

“Some officials have resorted to using force to take control of municipalities, which has created instability and stymied progress,” Matshego warned.

Meanwhile, North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has welcomed the reconstituted leadership, expressing optimism that the appointments could restore functionality in the municipality.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvs