Council 'in financial mess'

04 August 2009 - 02:00
By Moyahabo Mabeba and Frank Maponya

THE Molemole municipality in Limpopo has been plunged into financial turmoil, with serious allegations of corruption and nepotism being levelled at the mayor and municipal manager.

THE Molemole municipality in Limpopo has been plunged into financial turmoil, with serious allegations of corruption and nepotism being levelled at the mayor and municipal manager.

In a dossier written by council chief whip Harry Kataka to ANC provincial secretary Joe Maswanganyi and MEC for local government and housing Soviet Lekganyane, calls for the disbandment of the executive committee.

Kataka cites the irregular awarding of contracts by mayor Monica Mohale and manager Samuel Raselaya to their families and friends.

Among a litany of alleged corrupt activities are unwarranted salary increases for councillors, funding of an illegal strike, failure to complete infrastructural projects and paying for accommodation at lavish hotels for the mayor and her husband.

In the last financial year the council budgeted for nine percent salary increases for councillors but the councillors increased their salary hikes to 12percent without considering the financial situation of the municipality.

In the 2006-07 financial year the council started the construction of the Boulast pre-school.

The contract was awarded to Sani Mannya.

But three years later the project is still incomplete though the municipality still incurs expenses on the site.

Kataka claims that Raselaya has irregularly benefited from this project.

"We are calling for the immediate disbanding of the executive committee and the replacement of the mayor," Kataka says.

Municipal spokesperson Timothy Molopa said the allegations were unfounded.