By BAKANG MOKOTO
24 June 2025- The Democratic Alliance in the North West said it has opened criminal cases against the Ditsobotla mayor, Molefe Morutse , the municipal speaker, Manana Bogatsu and the Municipal Manager, Oloatse Bojosinyane, under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, Act 12 of 2004, for fraud, intimidation, coercion and extortion. The DA said these criminal cases relate to the establishment of an illegal parallel municipal council at a meeting held in March 2025, where it is alleged that fraudulent resignation letters from the ‘legitimate’ mayor, speaker and legally appointed acting Municipal Manager, were presented and where they were illegally removed from office.
The DA North West Spokesperson on Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Chris Steyl said after this illegal parallel council meeting, Bojosinyane allegedly managed to gain access to the Ditsobotla municipal offices, resulting in two gunfights which saw two persons injured and the death of another. Steyl said in addition, by some form of manipulation, it is alleged that Bojosinyane gained access to the Ditsobotla municipal bank account, completely subverting the authority of the legitimate council and its officials.
“All transactions facilitated by Bojosinyane since his hostile takeover is tantamount to fraud, if not theft. In addition, this unlawful parallel troika and council have not only resorted to violence, but now employ mafia tactics like intimidation, coercion and extortion by withholding the salaries of councillors and municipal workers, who refuse to legitimise the unlawful behaviour of these pretenders, Morutse, Bogatsu and Bojosinyane, under the guise of an employee verification exercise.
“There are no less than four High Court judgements confirming that the legitimate Ditsobotla Troika consists of Mazwi Moruri as the mayor, Jarious Modisakeng as the speaker, and Rasupang Mooketsi as the acting Municipal Manager,” he said.
Steyl further said the High Court handed down its judgements on 15 March, 10 April, 30 April, and 9 May 2025. He added that the SAPS must investigate these charges swiftly to ensure arrest and successful prosecution.
“In addition, the DA has also written to the National Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa, bringing these latest criminal developments to his attention and urging him to place the Ditsobotla Local Municipality under Section 139(7) national government administration, as we requested in January 2025.
“Ditsobotla residents continue to suffer unimaginable hardship as electricity blackouts and water shutdowns continue unabated while ANC factions fight over who is mayor and who is not. This must be put to an end immediately,” said Steyl.
He said while the situation in Ditsobotla is dire, hope remains. Steyl said the DA in North West will continue to pursue every mechanism at its disposal to fight for the rights and services residents are entitled to.
“DA councillors in Ditsobotla remain resolute and will continue to serve residents, working with community members and business stakeholders to respond to service delivery needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the municipal speaker of Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Jairous Modisakeng said the municipality continues to be plagued by the unlawful actions of dismissed Municipal Manager, Olaotse Bojosinyane, who, in concert with Morutse (who illegally presents himself as mayor) and Bogatsu (who illegally presents herself as the speaker), maintains an illegal tenure through force and division within the council. Modisakeng said these individuals, having been explicitly ordered by a court to cease representing themselves as municipal authorities, have systematically excluded the majority of councillors and employees from the municipal payroll.
“This punitive action is taken against those who refuse to recognize their illegitimate authority. On 18 June 2025, councillors and employees who sought clarification regarding their non-payment were met with violence.
“Private security personnel, acting under the direct instruction of Morutse and Bojosinyane, denied them entry to the municipal premises. While standing peacefully outside, these security personnel launched an unprovoked and brutal assault, severely injuring at least one councillor and several employees,” he said.
Modisakeng said this alarming incident occurred directly in the presence of South African Police Service (SAPS) officers, who failed to intervene. He said this inaction by SAPS Lichtenburg is part of a disturbing pattern.
“Previously, SAPS Lichtenburg refused to open a case of trespassing against these security personnel, and cases involving employees shot with live ammunition (by one of the security personnel) have seen the perpetrator released just after two days and the case not pursued any further.
“I was assaulted by the same security personnel in front of police, with no subsequent action taken on the opened case. Evidence strongly suggests that SAPS Lichtenburg, and by extension, the province under the Acting Provincial Commissioner, is compromised by local politics,” said Moadisakeng.
He said their failure to act against criminal conduct, even when committed in their full view, severely undermines their willingness to combat crime and uphold the law. Modisakeng said this grave dereliction of duty will be formally reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
“Such conduct by SAPS effectively enables Bojosinyane and his associates to disregard the rule of law with impunity.
Furthermore, ABSA Bank, the municipality’s primary banking institution, has consistently refused to remove the dismissed Municipal Manager, Bojosinyane from accessing public funds.
“This refusal persists despite multiple court orders. By enabling Bojosinyane to access these funds, ABSA Bank is effectively enabling the use of public money for his personal legal battles and to pay for a private security company that was controversially appointed even before he officially reported for duty,” he said.
Modisakeng said this raises serious concerns regarding corporate ethical standards. He said the communities of Ditsobotla are bearing the severe consequences of this ongoing governance crisis, manifested in a profound lack of service delivery.
“Every attempt to secure intervention from sector government or establish service delivery collaborations with the private sector is actively disrupted by those who benefit from the prevailing dysfunction and collapse of governance. The Ditsobotla Local Municipality has been reduced to a mere “spending center” incapable of sustaining itself.
“We reiterate our urgent call for a national government intervention. Such intervention is critical and must be expedited for the benefit and well-being of the communities of Ditsobotla,” he said.
The Guardian 