The council on Tuesday met and deliberated the appointment of Moroka Attorneys as the consulting firm for senior counsels set to kick-start the process of investigating Tankiso Mea’s alleged conduct. 

During the council sitting on Tuesday, opposition parties had called for the precautionary suspension of Mea while his alleged mismanagement and maladministration is being investigated. The ANC Chief Whip, Zolile Mangcotywa, however, says the party voted against the move to avoid placing the cart before the horse and said the independent counsels would have full access to documentation, amongst others.  

Meanwhile, the DA chief whip, Johan Pretorius, says the residents of the Metro can be assured that the issue of Mea is now at the hands of the judiciary and those counsels have only 30 days to scrutinise Mea.

“Yesterday [Tuesday] the council approved the appointment of two senior counsels - advocate Tebogo Manye and advocate Johann Nel - as the independent investigating team. The team will have full access to all documentation and records pertaining to the matter related to the allegations. The DA will respect the rule of law and will wait in anticipation for the results,” he adds.

Previously the DA, which proposed an investigation into Mea’s conduct, said Mea utterly failed the residents of Mangaung in his capacity as head of administration of the municipality.

OFM News