Row over new MM missing in action

By Libuseng Nyaka

QWAQWA – Councillors in the Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality have raised concern at the absence and unavailability of newly appointed municipal manager Advocate Motsoahae Mofokeng seeking clarity because he has not yet assumed his position.

The concerns were raised during a special council sitting when acting municipal manager Amos Goliath was still at work instead of Mofokeng.

Addressing the concerns, Maluti-a-Phofung local municipality executive mayor Malekula Melato attributed the absence of Mofokeng to processes that still need to unfold before he could resume his position.

“I have already written to the minister requesting for a waver for the outstanding days, I made a follow- up and an official from minister’s office Nana said they are waiting for his signature.”

But councillors were not convinced by Melato’s response as there was no law which requires an MEC nor Minister’s approval once council has come to a resolution to appoint an MM.

Paratlane Motloung said there is no law which requires the council to wait for a waiver once they have appointed the municipality manager.

“The law says after council has appointed the municipality manager, within 14 days if MEC does not come back to us with any queries on the appointment of the MM, there is no way we have to wait for MEC to hear what she/he says. Even the matter of the waver is not specific in terms of law. We said a waver must be used to support documents sent to the minster. It can only wait if an MEC or minister challenges the decision we have made. But so far there is nothing that stops the MM from assuming his duties. After this council sitting we need to make a resolution that the mayor must issue an appointment letter for the municipal manager that this council has appointed.”

Maluti-a-Phofung council in session.

Chipping in, Chikota Mkhwanazi requested that by Monday, the new MM must assume office. But Nare Ramahloki warned against repeating the same mistakes that they made when they appointed former MM Tseko Mothamaha and CFO whose salaries were later challenged by MEC of COGTA.

“We must agree on the salary he must be paid. I am not sure whether the letter notifying the MEC about his appointment included his salary.” Another councilor Teboho Mohlekoa requested the mayor to avail the letter that she claimed to have written to the minster, saying there is some contradiction in the mayor’s response.

Mohlekoa’s concern stemmed from the Mayor‘s response that she was waiting for the MEC’s and minister’s concurrences which she later corrected to ‘waiver’.