By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP) local municipality has submitted a motion for the urgent election of a new MPAC Chairperson.
The crucial position of the chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) has been vacant since June 2024 following the withdrawal of former chairperson Tumelo Thulo who has since been replaced by a new councillor from his party African Content Movement (ACM).
According to Moshe Lefuma a MAP councillor of the DA Thulo left the position vacant after he was recalled as a councillor by his political party ACM, the ANC’s coalition partner. MPAC is the centre of every functioning municipality, and the DA believes that for MAP to function properly MPAC needs to be working.
“Since its establishment in the current administration, the committee has struggled to take shape and has never tabled any report or interrogated any financial statements or findings of the Auditor-General (AG). The DA has been fighting throughout, trying to bring stability and making the committee function.”
“We have in the past sought interventions from the council speaker, SALGA, and COGTA, amongst others with no effect. The municipality currently has R8,1 billion in unauthorized, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditures, one of the highest in the Free State, this is very unsettling for us,” Lefuma said.
Former MPAC chairperson and recalled ACM councillor Tumelo Thulo.
The council speaker, Mandlenkosi Dlamini, is requested to call a council sitting and table this motion as a matter of urgency. The MPAC is already struggling, and it being leaderless only escalates this situation. The DA vows to fighting for accountability and protection of public funds in the municipality.
In an interview with this publication council chief whip Moeketsi Lebesa said the following,
“As of recent developments, councillor Tumelo Thulo is no longer a councillor, resulting in a vacancy in the chairperson position of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC). In accordance with procedure, the chairperson of MPAC is elected by the council. Therefore, the council will convene in the next scheduled meeting to elect a new chairperson, ensuring continuity and accountability in the committee’s critical work. We will keep the public informed of any updates and developments regarding this matter.”
