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Cogta MEC to take Fezile Dabi’s woes to court?

───   KATLEHO MORAPELA 16:55 Wed, 12 Dec 2018

Cogta MEC to take Fezile Dabi’s woes to court? | News Article
Photo for illustrative purposes only

Issues relating to power struggles within the Fezile Dabi Municipality in the Free State might again have to make a turn at the Free State High Court.


This, after the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Oupa Khobane, almost a month ago wrote a letter to the executive mayor of the municipality, Max Moshodi, instructing him to release Municipal Manager, Lindi Molibeli, from her position. Khobane in his letter dated November 19 stated that due processes were not followed in the appointment of Molibeli and that the decision taken by the municipal council regarding her appointment on November the 30th 2017 must be overturned. His Head of Department, Mokete Duma, on Wednesday told OFM News that the municipality has not responded on the matter and that Khobane might take a legal action as the municipality has to date not acted on his decision.


Khobane’s decision to revoke the appointment of the embattled Molibeli came months after a case regarding the power struggle within this financially troubled municipality was heard in the Free State High Court.

Molibeli, who was appointed by the council in 2017, had approached the High Court in the province for clarity on her appointment after the former mayor, Oumix Oliphant, allegedly refused to sign her contract, nor her performance agreement placing her position into question.

Molibeli’s legal action regarding her appointment was, however, followed by a counter application from Oliphant asking for the appointment to be set aside, stating that the council was non-compliant in the appointment process and that the council did not appoint a panel to preside over the appointment, nor did they submit a written report to Khoabane’s office.

Both cases were in October 2018 dismissed by the High Court on grounds that the Fezile Dabi District Municipality needed to inform Khoabane of the appointment process and outcome of the preferred applicant as Municipal Manager.

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