By OBAKENG MAJE
The Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) has established an ad hoc committee to probe the embattled municipal mayor, Tumisang Gaoralwe’s conduct. This comes after Gaoraelwe’s involvement in accidents, while driving the luxury R700 000 BMW X3 belonging to the municipality.
Gaoraelwe was allegedly involved in an accident on 30 June 2024. He crashed the vehicle after allegedly being followed and shot at by unknown assailants.
However, there are allegations that Gaoraelwe crashed the municipal vehicle during the day while drunk and later on, staged the attempted hijacking as a cover-up.
Now, municipal speaker Grace Moipolai said they have established an ad hoc committee to probe Gaoraelwe’s vehicle accidents.
“In terms of the powers invested in me, I have decided to call for a special council meeting that will look into the vehicle accident involving the mayor. On 30 June 2024, Gaoraelwe was reportedly involved in an ugly accident, while driving the official vehicle.
“In any event, the accident is a personal and sensitive matter that has to be treated with care and respect as it involves the dignity and the inherent rights of those involved and need to be protected at all cost,” she said.
Moipolai further said, it is in the interest of the public, the municipal council to investigate the matter thoroughly and in the end furnish the public a clear report on what has transpired as Gaoralwe was using the state property. She added Gaoraelwe was involved in accidents twice using the municipal vehicle and this has precipitated the public interest.
“We have established an ad hoc committee in terms of Schedule 1, Code of Conduct for councillors, paragraph 14 of the Municipal Systems Act (MSA). The ad hoc committee will investigate the previous accidents that Gaoraelwe was involved in, as well as the recent incident that allegedly happened on 30 June 2024.
“It is in the interest of the public that such a move is undertaken and the community of the Greater Taung be favoured with a report of this investigation, including the MEC for COGTA and the Auditor General (AG),” said Moipolai.
The committee is expected to table a report before the council within 21 days.
Meanwhile, Gaoraelwe has written a letter to Moipolai questioning the legitimacy of the committee. He said the letter from Moipolai was purely and merely a formal requisition of the accident.
“In premise, motor vehicle accidents while using municipal/state vehicles are not recorded as a breach of code of conduct, which in essence rendered the investigation by the ad hoc committee baseless and unfounded,” he said.
The Guardian 