By OBAKENG MAJE
A grim picture of corruption and funds misappropriation continues to show its ugly head at the embattled Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM). This comes after allegations that the municipality has been doing business with the Motheo Guesthouse, which is allegedly owned by one of its employees, Dikagiso Mokoma.
The controversial Mokoma was suspended a few months ago for allegedly misleading the municipal council over danger allowance. Now, it is alleged that, the municipality has spent millions of rands on the facility.
According to our sources, this was allegedly done through the traveling agency appointed by the municipality.
“We know that the municipality has allegedly booked the Motheo Guesthouse on numerous occasions to host meetings and book accommodation. Even though this was done through the travelling agency, it was still wrong because the guesthouse is allegedly by owned Mokoma.
“These individuals are now committing corruption with impunity because they know that they are highly protected. It cannot be correct that individuals do business with the municipality, while they are listed as employees,” our source said.
The municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe and Mokoma failed to respond to our telephone calls and WhatsApp messages before publishing this article.
In March 2022, the Public Service Commission (PSC) highlighted that, most government employees in North West are either doing business with the state or sit on various bid committees to award tenders to their cronies.
The PSC Commissioner in the North West, Dr Moeletsi Leballo: “Every government employee is expected to fill the financial disclosure form to be scrutinized. As the PSC, we have realised that there are many government employees, who are doing business with the government or sit in bid committees that award tenders.
“If they do so, this constitutes a conflict of interest. This has led many government entities or departments to have incurred irregular, unauthorized, wasteful, and fruitless expenditure in consecutive years.”
Leballo further said, more than R76 million (R76 629 940.07) has been frivolously spent during the 2020/21 financial year. He added that R1 957 615.20 was squandered during the 2017/2018 financial year and has not been recovered yet.
“It is a concerning factor to see departments under-reporting financial misconduct cases in the province. So, we are of the view that the accounting officers responsible should be held accountable for non-compliance,” he said.
The Chairperson of the North West Provincial Legislature’s Standing Committee on oversight of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Jacqueline Theologo said: “We will write a letter to the North West Premier, Bushy Maape to submit a report to the committee to reply to all financial misconduct cases.
“This will assist us to get a complete reflection of what is actually happening. There is a discrepancy in the process because not everything is forwarded to the PSC and recommendations are not fully implemented.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West, Papiki Babuile said, corruption is dire in the province and all those who are in power are not there to serve the people but to execute their own interests.
Meanwhile, the North West Premier, Bushy Maape said during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) that he had set up a forensic unit that will assist his government to fight malfeasance, corruption, and fraud.
“The anti-corruption strategy will include various components such as lifestyle audits on MECs, MPLs, and senior managers including council members,” he said.
TaungDailyNews 