By AGISANANG SCUFF
11 September 2026 – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has warned the ANC-led Tswaing Local Municipality against continuing with “business as usual” amid serious allegations surrounding its acting municipal manager, Adv Lesang Cyril Lobakeng. DA said Lobakeng appeared in the Delareyville Magistrate’s Court on 4 September 2026, following an investigation by the Hawks into alleged contraventions of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
DA Constituency Head for Tswaing Local Municipality and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Jóhni Steenkamp said the party had already called for Lobakeng’s immediate suspension on 21 August 2026, pending investigations into allegations of financial misconduct.
According Steenkamp, the case relates to a security contract that was initially awarded for one month at R452 000. He said the company allegedly continued providing services after the contract had expired, after which council reportedly resolved to pay more than R886 000.
“Lobakeng is accused of authorising the payment and failing to advise council that the payment would be unlawful and irregular. The allegations must still be tested through due legal process. The allegation was justified when DA raised concerns before public funds became the subject of a criminal case.
“The ANC-led administration must stop waiting for law enforcement to force its hand. Serious allegations involving senior officials require decisive action, proper investigation and accountability – not business as usual,” said Steenkamp.
He further said the DA would pursue further criminal charges, if evidence of corruption or financial misconduct was uncovered. Steenkamp added that they are finalising further matters involving alleged wrongdoing at Tswaing Local Municipality and will lay additional criminal charges with the relevant law-enforcement authorities, where the evidence warrants it.
“We also warn that no municipal official, political connection or position should place anyone above accountability. The money involved could have been used to address pressing service delivery challenges facing residents, including dry taps, deteriorating roads, failing infrastructure and unreliable basic services.
“Every rand lost through corruption, irregular expenditure or financial mismanagement is a rand that cannot be spent maintaining water infrastructure, keeping electricity networks operational or fixing roads,” he said.
Steenkamp said the DA’s Working for All Manifesto calls for municipalities to be professionally managed, public funds to be protected, procurement processes to be transparent and corruption to have consequences. He said Tswaing residents deserved to know that municipal funds were being used for the services they pay for.
“We will keep exposing wrongdoing, taking evidence to the authorities and fighting for every rand of residents’ money to be used where it belongs: delivering services to communities,” said Steenkamp.
The Guardian 