THE Mogalakwena local municipality in Mokopane has been ordered to pay back R900,000 that was paid in salaries and legal fees to the council's former corporate services director.
Limpopo MEC for cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs Clifford Motsepe ordered that the money paid to expelled director Henry Thobejane be paid back to the council.
This after Thobejane was reinstated in spite of being found guilty by a municipal disciplinary hearing and fired.
Thobejane was found guilty of 26 charges involving corruption, fraud, gross dishonesty and failing to take orders from his superiors.
An investigation by audit firm KPMG confirmed allegations of fraud and corruption against Thobejane.
This resulted in Motsepe ordering the council to pay back the money last Friday.
"We expect the council to pay back the legal fees that run to R400,000 and R500,000 that was paid to Thobejane in salaries," Motsepe said.
"The money must be repaid by all councillors who were present when the decision (to reinstate Thobejane) was taken as per section 32 of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
"It should be deducted monthly from April this year from the salaries of all the implicated councillors."
Thobejane's problems started in 2010 after municipal manager William Kekana sent a report to the municipal council's executive committee explaining his conduct.
The provincial office found that Thobejane had irregularly terminated the contract of a law firm that was mandated by the municipality to recover R853366 plus interest from the Academy Sport Excellence for services rendered.
Thobejane's conduct at the time resulted in the municipality not being able to recover the money.
Among other reasons why Thobejane was fired was his failure to disclose to the council that he was dismissed from his previous employment.
He was also found dishonest in that he failed to perform the functions of his office in good faith, diligently and honestly.
The document further stated that Thobejane was directly or indirectly involved in the theft of official documents, failed to carry out an instruction by the municipal manager and was involved in financial misconduct, among other things.
Meanwhile, ANC regional secretary in Waterberg, Andries Lekalala, might face the music for allegedly being responsible for plunging the council into financial crisis.
Lekalakala had allegedly instructed the municipality, both verbally and in writing, to reinstate Thobejane though the latter had been found guilty of 26 charges and had subsequently been dismissed.
MEC takes harsh action
THE Mogalakwena local municipality in Mokopane has been ordered to pay back R900,000 that was paid in salaries and legal fees to the council's former corporate services director.
Limpopo MEC for cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs Clifford Motsepe ordered that the money paid to expelled director Henry Thobejane be paid back to the council.
This after Thobejane was reinstated in spite of being found guilty by a municipal disciplinary hearing and fired.
Thobejane was found guilty of 26 charges involving corruption, fraud, gross dishonesty and failing to take orders from his superiors.
An investigation by audit firm KPMG confirmed allegations of fraud and corruption against Thobejane.
This resulted in Motsepe ordering the council to pay back the money last Friday.
"We expect the council to pay back the legal fees that run to R400,000 and R500,000 that was paid to Thobejane in salaries," Motsepe said.
"The money must be repaid by all councillors who were present when the decision (to reinstate Thobejane) was taken as per section 32 of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
"It should be deducted monthly from April this year from the salaries of all the implicated councillors."
Thobejane's problems started in 2010 after municipal manager William Kekana sent a report to the municipal council's executive committee explaining his conduct.
The provincial office found that Thobejane had irregularly terminated the contract of a law firm that was mandated by the municipality to recover R853366 plus interest from the Academy Sport Excellence for services rendered.
Thobejane's conduct at the time resulted in the municipality not being able to recover the money.
Among other reasons why Thobejane was fired was his failure to disclose to the council that he was dismissed from his previous employment.
He was also found dishonest in that he failed to perform the functions of his office in good faith, diligently and honestly.
The document further stated that Thobejane was directly or indirectly involved in the theft of official documents, failed to carry out an instruction by the municipal manager and was involved in financial misconduct, among other things.
Meanwhile, ANC regional secretary in Waterberg, Andries Lekalala, might face the music for allegedly being responsible for plunging the council into financial crisis.
Lekalakala had allegedly instructed the municipality, both verbally and in writing, to reinstate Thobejane though the latter had been found guilty of 26 charges and had subsequently been dismissed.
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