FORMER municipal manager at Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Mokgele Mojaki could be in trouble after R105m was abused under his watch.

This came out when the district leadership appeared before the North West select committee on public accounts (Scopa) in Mahikeng.

It emerged that the district lost R104 698 512 that went out of its coffers in direct contravention of supply chain and procurement requirements.

Scopa indicated that there was a lot of rot at the municipality and people would have to be arrested.

The committee sent out seven questions to the municipality and members did not mince their words that they were not impressed by the direction the municipality was moving.

They made it clear that good governance was not part of the attributes at the district municipality and called for drastic measures to be taken if the situation is to be contained.

Scopa chairperson, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng said the municipality relies too heavily on consultants to assist with key services.

“We believe that the municipality does not have any plan to recoup the missing money. The municipality is in tatters and we want answers. We want criminal charges to be laid against the former municipal manager, Mokgele Mojaki and others.

“We are guided by MFMA rules and regulations. The municipality employed more staff and most of the budget goes to their salaries rather than service delivery. The answers that the municipality giving us does not have remedial actions on them,” Mahlakeng said.

Committee member, Boitumelo Moiloa said the municipality must stop relying on consultants.

She said that huge sums of money were paid to consultants while there are people employed and paid to do the same job.

“The municipality needs to hire competent people. Consultants are too expensive and this will strain the municipality financially. The Audit General also highlighted that the municipality does not have adequate system to reconcile millions lost,” she said.

Executive mayor, Justice Makolomakwa and acting municipal manager Jerry Brandon said they were doing their best to make sure they exorcise the financial mismanagement ghost haunting the municipality.

“As for the R105m and the former municipal manager, the provincial treasury commissioned a forensic audit and the report is out. We are just waiting for further directions from the department before we start acting on the recommendations,” Makolomakwa said.

“There is another case we referred to the hawks for consideration because we are of the view that some people can be criminally charged. Once the Hawks have decided, we will now what step to take next,” he added.

On his part, Brandon promised to work round the clock to bring about accountability and clean governance at the municipality.

Source: http://www.thenewage.co.za