The sudden appointment of the former Mayor of the Merafong Local Municipality, Maphefo Mogale-Letsie, as an ANC Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in Gauteng comes down to cadre deployment and a reward for her role in the maladministration of Merafong.
The fact that she was inaugurated under a different name, Sara Madinge Letsie, raises suspicions and the FF Plus will query it and demand an investigation if need be.
On the 13th of March this year, Mogale-Letsie was removed from her office for her part in the VBS scandal after the Municipality had in 2017 unlawfully invested money in VBS Bank, according to a Deloitte forensic report. The R50 million investment was in violation of the Municipal Finance Management Act, which determines that municipal funds may not be invested in mutual banks.
In addition to the unlawful investment, the Municipality's financial position deteriorated significantly under her leadership between 2011 and 2021.
Residents are plagued by frequent power and water outages, inadequate infrastructure and poor or non-payment to service providers, like Eskom.
The FF Plus has reservations about the mystery surrounding her new appointment. Her resignation was announced by the Merafong Speaker, Elvis Mphithikezi, on the 7th of September and was due to officially come into effect that afternoon, but by that time she had already been inaugurated by the Gauteng Speaker, Ntombi Mekgwe, as Sara Madinge Letsie.
The FF Plus will lodge queries with the Legislature regarding the strange circumstances of her appointment.
Municipalities must not be affected by mismanagement and irregularities. Taxpayers are paying for services that are not being delivered to them.
On 1 November, residents of the Merafong Municipality (Carletonville, Fochville, Wedela) will have the opportunity to stand up and stand with the FF Plus to send a strong message to the ANC: The decline of the Municipality will not be tolerated.
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