By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) will have a special council meeting at Depot Hall in Taung on 19 July 2024. The municipal council that will be convened at 11am, is expected to discuss the investigation on mayoral car accident.
This comes after the embattled municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoraelwe crashed a R700 000 BMW X3 belonging to the municipality a few weeks ago. It is alleged that Gaoraelwe was accosted by unknown assailants who shot at him.
This resulted in him losing control of the vehicle and crashing the gate. However, there are allegations making rounds that Gaoraelwe had a car accident during the day and later on staged the shooting as a cover-up.
In a letter, the municipal speaker, Grace Moipolai said: “Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 29 (1) of the local government municipal structure act No 117 of 1998, that a special council meeting of Greater Taung Local Municipality will be held on Friday at Depot Hall.”
Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) in the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) said it will table a motion of no confidence against the beleaguered Gaoraelwe. F4SD councillor at the municipality, Mika Moeti, who is also the Member of Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance said, Gaoraelwe must pack his bags and go because he is not fit for the position.
Moeti said, if the ANC wants renewal and vibrant change at the municipality, it must recall Gaoraelwe.
“Gaoraelwe does not have the best interests of the community at heart. He continues to destroy the assets of the municipality and this hampers service delivery. As the municipality, we are committed to positive change and to making a difference in the lives of our residents in all our communities.
“However, we are sickened by the actions of Gaoraelwe. Remember, this is not for the first time he crashed the official municipal vehicle. This really shows that he does not respect the institution, the voters and himself,” he said.
Moeti further said he saw Gaoraelwe on Saturday night allegedly drunk and he was not surprised when he received a report that he crashed the municipal vehicle on Sunday. He added that the municipality never had the mayor who damaged its assets before.
“We had mayors such as Nicholas Khonkhobe, Boitumelo Mahlangu, Kaone Lobelo, including Kgosi Nnyoko Motlhabane and they have never put the municipality in disrepute like this,” said Moeti.
Meanwhile, the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) spokesperson, Ricky Oliphant said the municipality has allocated security guards for Gaoraelwe.
“These are not appointments, but provision of security for the mayor. This is part of our responsibility as the municipality. So, we have allocated two security guards at night and one during the day. This should go on until there is no need/perceived threat.
“There is no additional cost as these have been drawn from the quota of security guards we already have as part of our contract with Diphetogo Security Services. Gaoraelwe is on leave until 5 July 24. So, Itumeleng Maribe has been appointed as acting mayor,” he said.
Oliphant said the municipality is aware of the allegations that Gaoraelwe has staged the shooting, but the official information they received was that he collided with the gate as he was trying to evade people, who were chasing him. He said it is their understanding that the case has been reported to the police and the municipality is not able to pronounce itself on the issue at this stage.
The Guardian 