By OBAKENG MAJE
5 March 2025- The embattled Ditsobotla Local Municipality said it has terminated the employment contract of the suspended Municipal Manager, Olaotse Bojosinyane. The municipality said in a statement that, this decision was taken on 30 January 2025, however, it was taken on a judicial review by the aggrieved party at labour court on 14 February 2025, on an urgent application and of which judgement was handed down by his lordship, Makhura J on 28 February 2025, ordering the reinstatement of Bojosinyane as a Municipal Manager.
The acting Municipal Manager of Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Rasupang Mooketsi said, on Monday, the whole judgement was appealed and the effects of which suspended the operation and or implementation of the judgement as regulated by Superior Court Act. Mooketsi said to that extent, a communication was done to Bojosinyane by the mayor, Mazwi Moruri, regarding the notice of application for a leave to appeal.
“Regrettably, Bojosinyane disregarded the communication and took office by force being aided by his private security. The chaos then erupted between a security company employed by the municipality, some municipal employees and the private security of Bojosinyane.
“During the chaos that erupted, live ammunition was used by the private security shooting at municipal employees and injured two. One employee sustained a gunshot to the chest and he is in a critical condition at hospital, whilst the other one sustained a gunshot to the lower leg,” he said.
Mooketsi further said on the fraudulent letters of resignations by municipal speaker, Jairous Modisakeng and Moruri, the municipality would like to put it on record that viral letters of resignation are fake and fraudulent. He added that, to this extent, cases are registered with South African Police Services (SAPS) for further investigation.
“The speaker and mayor view this as an attempt to cause confusion and uncertainty. Those committed to continuously change and undermine the political office bearers have today, unlawfully convened a council meeting out of jurisdiction of Ditsobotla Local Municipality. A notice of council meeting was circulated undersigned by Bojosinyane (who is no longer an employee of the municipality pending the finalisation of the appeal).
“These actions are nothing but desperate attempts to create parallel structures of governance. It is rather sad that few councillors are in support of this attempt to create a state of dysfunction. The public and stakeholders are cautioned not to interact with Bojosinyane in any capacity related to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality,” he said.
Mooketsi said on 5 March 2025, Modisakeng had convened a properly constituted special council sitting, at which the council received an update from Moruri regarding the visit by the Office of the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation. He said since the end of January 2025, their municipality through the intergovernmental relations, has been engaged in continuous engagements to source resourceful support and interventions to assist the municipality provide much needed basic services to residents.
“We would like to apologise to the public, residents, consumers as well as stakeholders about the recent incidents of public disorder that disrupted provision of services in the municipality. We wish to reaffirm the commitment to provide basic services within our financial limitations and daunting challenges confronting the municipality,” said Moruri.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor at Ditsobotla Local Municipality, Manana Bogatsu and ANC councillor, Molefe Morutse, were elected as municipal speaker and municipal mayor during a special council sitting today allegedly convened by Bojosinyane.
*Meanwhile, Bojosinyane has not responded to Taung DailyNews request regarding allegations levelled against him yet. His response will be incorporated in the article when received.
Picture: Ditsobotla Local Municipality
The Guardian 