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COUNCIL IN turmoil

INFORMED: MEC Joe Maswanganyi. Pic: Elijar Mushiana. 02/06/2009. © Sowetan.
INFORMED: MEC Joe Maswanganyi. Pic: Elijar Mushiana. 02/06/2009. © Sowetan.

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

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

A dossier written by the 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 entire council.

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

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

During the previous financial year the council had budgeted for nine percent salary increases for the councillors.

But, the councillors increased their salaries by 12percent without considering the financial constraints faced by the municipality.

During the 2006-07 financial year the municipality started the construction of the Boulast pre-school.

The project was given to Sani Mannya but three years later the project is still incomplete.

Kataka claims that Reselaya had irregularly benefitted from this project.

Owing to the serious financial woes, the municipality was unable to complete the construction of its new office blocks, which started during the 2006-07 financial year.

Kataka says the municipality lost heavily in revenues. Despite the financial troubles, the mayor and the manager continued to spend more money on things that were not budgeted for.

The manager is allegedly embroiled in a dodgy scandal for awarding a contract to a friend for the purchasing of two trucks.

According to Kataka, Raselaya ignored a cheaper company and opted for an expensive one belonging to his friend.

The mayor and the manager are also said to have benefitted from the tarring of the Eisleben road project.

He says the road construction contract worth R2,5million in Eisleben was awarded to Banareng Construction.

"We are calling for the disbandment of the entire executive committee and replacement of the mayor with someone who is capable," says Kataka.

Municipal spokesperson Timothy Molopa says the allegations are unfounded since the mayor was never involved in any tender awarding committee.

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