By OBAKENG MAJE
The opposition parties at the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) have opened a fraud case against the beleaguered Dikagisho Mokoma, who is the municipal Director of Corporate Services.
This comes after Mokoma was implicated in the findings of the investigative report tabled by the Matshego Ramagaga Attorneys. The independent law firm was appointed by the municipality to investigate allegations of misconduct against Mokoma.
She allegedly misled the previous council over danger allowance for the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the municipality ‘illegally’ paying senior managers and directors a monthly R2500 as danger allowance, instead of a standard flat rate of R1500.
According to the investigative report, the municipality has lost R508 500 due to Mokoma’s alleged conduct. The Patriotic Alliance (PA) councillor in the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM), Mmoni Letele said, the council delegated the former Municipal Manager, Katlego Gabanakgosi to commission investigations against Mokoma.
“So, during the council meeting, we discussed two important items that formed part of our agenda. Firstly, there was the implementation of a council resolution. You will remember that, on 9 October 2022 during a special council meeting, we took a resolution that the danger allowance policy be adjusted.
“So, we expected the acting municipal manager, Andrew Makuapane to outline his plans on recouping those R1000s that were paid to senior managers and directors. There was also a representation of investigative report on danger allowance, including findings on the allegations that Mokoma has misled the previous council,” she said.
Letele further said, the investigative report findings suggest that, Mokoma has misled the council. She added that, the LLF and council resolved that each employee should get R1500 as the standard flat rate.
“The findings of the investigative report also suggest that the initial agreement was a draft, but Mokoma unilaterally amended it. When she was asked why did she ‘illegally’ amend the draft report, she gave an excuse that she did this in order to compensate senior managers and directors because they do not get overtime.
“So, she amended the LLF agreement fraudulently, hence we opened a criminal case. As usual, the ANC councillors used their majority and refused to implement the recommendations of the investigative report even though it was adopted and seconded. They suggested that the report be deferred for three weeks without any valid reasons,” said Letele.
According to Letele’s suspicions, the ANC councillors deferred the report for three weeks because they know that will mark the end of Mokoma’s suspension. Letele said, the ANC councillors want Mokoma’s three months suspension to lapse so that she can return to work without facing any disciplinary hearing.
“Mokoma should be held accountable and pay back R508 500 that the municipality has lost due to her decisions. The fraudulent amendment executed by her has cost the municipality to lose R508 500 due to those extra R1000s paid to senior managers and directors.
“This money should have been allocated for service delivery. But the municipality has lost money because of Mokoma’s action and manipulation,” she said.
The African Independent Congress (AIC) councillor, Salvation De Kuker shared the same sentiments. De Kuker said they hope to find a lasting solution to this matter.
“It cannot be possible that the ANC councillors use their majority to go against what is right. So, we believe that the law enforcement authorities will assist us to ensure that justice prevails,” she said.
Meanwhile, the North West police spokesperson in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati cluster, Warrant Officer, Tryphosa van Rooyen said: “A case of fraud was opened at the Taung Police Station against an employee of the Greater Taung Local Municipality on Tuesday.
“However, no arrest has been made at present and an investigation is underway by the Taung Detectives.”
The Guardian 