By OBAKENG MAJE
18 September 2025- The embattled Naledi Local Municipality said it will not respond to any questions regarding the ‘irregular’ appointment of its Municipal Manager, Modisenyane Segapo, including his ‘questionable’ qualifications until the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) complete its investigations on the matter. The committee allegedly raised a red flag against Segapo’s qualifications during its recent visit to the North West.
This comes after allegations on whether Segapo completed his B. Iuris undergraduate degree or not.
In 2023, the North West High Court sitting in Mahikeng, rendered the appointment of Segapo as the Municipal Manager as invalid and unlawful. The aggrieved employees and councillors at the municipality, Thabo Appolus, Lerato Setlhake, Lebogang Jacobs and Vuyiswa Morakile, launched an application on an urgent basis challenging the appointment of Segapo.
Judge FMM Reid said the report they received from the MEC did not support the appointment of Segapo as Municipal Manager. Reid said the report of the MEC dated 26 April 2023 and titled: “Report on the process of appointing the Municipal Manager at Naledi Local Municipality.”
“The finding of MEC is that the appointment of Segapo as Municipal Manager is not supported because MEC found the procedural and substantive requirements in relation to the appointment of municipal senior managers, submitted as per Regulation 17 (4) not to have been complied with.
“Amongst others, the following issues of non-compliance were highlighted in the MEC’s report. Interviews were conducted 44 days after the screening process, which is 23 days more than the period that is allowed in terms of Regulation 15(1),” he said.
However, the municipality has since challenged the matter at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) and is believed to have already spent over R20 million on the legal battle.
The Naledi Local Municipality mayor, Clifton Groep said: “We have received your questions regarding the appointment and qualifications of the Municipal Manager, Modisenyane Segapo. However, the matter is still under investigation by the Portfolio Committee as declared on 3 September 2025, by the Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize.
“Therefore, there is not much that can be said until the investigation is completed and after all the proof is submitted before the committee. If you are still interested post the completion of the investigation, then you are welcome to send a reminder regarding the matter and all questions will be addressed with all supporting documents.”
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi did not want to be drawn into the matter regarding Segapo’s appointment and qualifications. Molapisi said the matter is subjected to court processes and the department will only render a comment once the matter is finalised.
“As part of professionalising the local government sphere, the recruitment of qualified and competent individuals who are fit for purpose is non-negotiable. Municipalities must, for all positions, appoint qualified and competent individuals who will contribute to the proper functioning of municipalities.
“On a regular basis, the department receives reports from municipalities as they pursue concurrence on the appointment of senior managers as per the provisions of section 54A(8) and 56(6) of the Municipal Systems Act, (Act No. 32 of 2000) as amended,” he said.
Molapisi further said if the department picks-up non-compliance through the purview of Regulations on Appointment and Conditions of Appointment of Senior Managers – 2014, it will not support the appointment and this will be communicated to the municipality to correct. He added that the municipality has a chance to engage the department to rectify the matter or MEC can approach the court for declaratory order to nullify the appointment.
“The department is also capacitating councillors and municipal officials on the Local Government: Regulations on appointment and conditions of appointment of senior managers – 2014,” said Molapisi.
The Guardian 