By OBAKENG MAJE
The beleaguered Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe is ‘caught up’ in his own ‘web of lies’ if the appointment letter he allegedly signed and sent to the Municipal Manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi is anything to go by. Gaoraelwe was involved in a car accident and crashed the municipality’s R700 000 SUV on Monday afternoon just 15km outside Schweizer Reneke towards Wolmaranstad.
According to the letter, Gaoraelwe appointed Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) councillor, Mika Moeti as the acting mayor from 29 September until 3 October 2022. Now, the F4SD president, Mbahare Kekana, who confirmed that indeed Moeti received the appointment letter as an acting mayor, calls for a probe.
“Yes, it is true that our councillor, Mika Moeti who is also the Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) chairperson on Finance and F4SD national chairperson, was appointed as the acting mayor from 29 September until 3 October 2022.
“We have a letter to attest to that. We were shocked after we received calls that Gaoraelwe was involved in a car accident using the mayoral car. So, we condemn that with all the strongest terms. What he did is the abuse of state resources and should be charged,” Kekana said.
He further said, what shocked them worse is that, Gaoraelwe was driving himself.
“We want to know, where was the mayor’s driver during this? Also, whether or not the family members of the mayor are allowed to travel in the municipal vehicle is not much of an issue, the bottom line is, he was on leave.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, Sam Nape said: “We are calling for the entire community of Taung to hold Gaoraelwe accountable for irresponsible and deplorable behaviour on his part, where he illegally took possession of the mayoral vehicle.
“This led to him crashing the car outside the geographical boundaries of the very same local municipality he has been entrusted by our voters to lead. Even more concerning is the fact that, the mayor is said to have been on leave at the time of this irresponsible car wreckage incident and he was allegedly drunk whilst travelling with a girlfriend.”
Nape said as the DA, opposed the acquisition of the very same vehicle given its high-end price tag of more than R 700 000 given that, BMW X3 is not only exorbitant but is also unfit for traversing the municipality’s road landscape.
He said, therefore, they call for the removal of the ‘delinquent’ mayor and wish to reiterate that only the DA can provide an accountable and efficient government to the people of Greater Taung.
Meanwhile, Gaoraelwe came out guns blazing and defended himself over drunk allegations. He insists that, he was ‘sober’ during the accident.
According to the North West police, Gaoraelwe was allegedly driving behind a tractor in the same direction and collided with it during a failed attempt to overtake.
The North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Sgt Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “Upon arrival at the scene, the police found a vehicle belonging to the mayor and a tractor involved in an accident. It is alleged that, a tractor that was travelling towards Wolmaranstad was off-ramping from the main road, while Gaoraelwe was driving behind it.
“Gaoraelwe allegedly tried to overtake the tractor but collided with the rear right side of it. No injuries were sustained by the driver and the passenger of the vehicle and only damages to both vehicles were reported,” van Rooyen said.
She said a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened by the police and is still under investigation.
North West police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone confirmed that, indeed Gaoraelwe was travelling with his ex-wife and two children, which is contrary to the police’s preliminary response.
Gaoraelwe said: “First of all, I was not on leave because if I was, there could have been an acting mayor. So, no one was acting because I was not on leave. According to the regulation, as councillors, one can take an absence of leave, but it should be granted by the municipal speaker through consultation with the council.
“That’s how straightforward it is, so, I was not on leave. Yes, I had an accident, but I was still not on leave. I was with my ex-wife including my children in the car.”
He further said, he was driving his ex-wife and children back to Klerksdorp and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) mayoral handbook allows him to use an official vehicle for private matters.
“It allows me to use this car for official and private matters. My extended or closest family members are also allowed to be in the car. Even worse, they are allowed to drive the car.
“Let me tell you another thing that is worse, my girlfriend is also allowed to drive this car, if I declared her at the municipality. So, who was in the car is not much of an issue,” said Gaoraelwe.
He added that, he still has a relationship with his wife by a virtue of having children together. Gaoraelwe said for the purpose of the accident report, he was not drunk and even his blood was drawn from him for a test.
“I am ok, and I am wondering why people persist that there was a woman in the car without mentioning my children who were also in the car. there were two boys in the car, but no one is mentioning it.
“You guys are talking about a woman in the car as if she was a stranger or a concubine. I am also a human being and I do not like this type of journalism,” concluded Gaoraelwe.
*He failed to confirm the authenticity of the appointment letter at the time of publishing this article.
The Guardian 