By OBAKENG MAJE
The embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality is under siege after it appointed the Municipal Manager, Olaotswe Bojosinyane without allegedly following due process. According to our highly-placed source, the municipal speaker allegedly adjourned and stormed out of the special council meeting, where Bojosinyane was appointed as the Municipal Manager.
However, some of the council members allegedly continued and appointed Bojosinyane without following due process.
“The appointment of Bojosinyane was unduly and I think this matter will end in court. There was no municipal speaker as the presiding officer. Even though the meeting met the quorum, the processes were flawed.
“There are also allegations that Bojosinyane was not the suitable candidate and he also failed vetting processes. Another issue, there was a letter from the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi, instructing the municipality not to fill senior manager positions. However, the letter was ignored.”
The Ditsobotla Local Municipality mayor, Thabo Nkashe introduced the Bojosinyane to the staff after he was appointed as new Municipal Manager during a municipal special council meeting held on 4 July 2024.
Nkashe said Bojosinyane was appointed a substantive Municipal Manager in terms of the provisions of Section 54A of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, No 32 of 2000 and Regulations.
He further said Bojosinyane was appointed by the council on a three year fixed contract basis effective from 8 July 2024. Nkashe added that Bojosinyane was appointed at a critical time when the municipality desperately needed an administrative head to steer its strategies towards growth and development in the interest of the citizens.
“The appointment of Bojosinyane will greatly influence and improve the municipality’s financial position and its audit outcomes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs spokesperson, Dineo Thapelo said even though the department is aware of Bojosinyane’s appointment, they only learnt about it through social media. Thapelo said the department is yet to receive a report from the municipality regarding the appointment of Bojosinyane.
“According to the Section 54 A (7)(a) of Municipal Systems Act (as amended), council must within 14 days from the date of the appointment of the Municipal Manager, notify the MEC of the appointment processes and outcome.
“The council of Ditsobotla is still within the 14-day period within which to submit such a report to the MEC. The recruitment and appointment process of the Municipal Manager is very detailed and it is prescribed in terms of the Regulations 17 of 2014 on the Appointment and Conditions of Employment of Senior Managers,” she said.
Thapelo said indeed Molapisi had advised the municipality not to proceed with the filling of vacant senior manager positions because it continues to struggle to pay the salaries of the employees. She said the provincial government has intervened by seconding senior managers to assist in running the municipality.
“These officials are being remunerated by the provincial government. The role of the MEC in this regard is to assess the recruitment process and ensure compliance,” said Thapelo.
*The municipality spokesperson, Pius Batsile ignored Taung DailyNews media inquiry regarding allegations levelled against the municipality and he has also not responded at the time of publishing this article. The response from the municipality will be incorporated in the article when received.
The Guardian 