‘Voetsek Matlala!’ — Public fury erupts at Sol Plaatje

COMMUNITY members are in uproar after Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala was given another seven days to respond to allegations during a special council meeting on Thursday.

This came despite a scathing attack from civic organisations, which alleged that he was being shielded while “question marks” hung over his head, including claims of dubious tenders and appointments secured under his watch.

Community members toyi-toyied in the corridors of the municipality, chanting “voetsek, voetsek, Matlala must go!” and threatened to physically remove him from the premises this week. 

They said the municipal leadership was “dragging their feet” when it came to suspending Matlala and called for all councillors to step down for being “complicit in wrongdoing”.

Members of the gallery were told to leave chambers when Khuza Bogacwi was appointed acting municipal manager on Thursday, where it was also announced that Matlala had taken annual leave from September 3 to 27. 

They were again instructed to wait outside when the council discussed another “confidential item” — the possible suspension of the municipal manager. The public was only allowed back inside after the decision to grant Matlala another seven days to respond.

EFF councillor Kenneth Kock objected, demanding that the Speaker apologise to the public for inviting them to the meeting only to chase them away. 

Fellow EFF councillor Pontsho Mocwana added that the council could have reached a decision had they been presented with Matlala’s report in response to the allegations against him.

“No reasons were given as to why the report was not made available. No decision can be made without knowing its contents,” Mocwana said.

Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum councillor Dennis Pienaar also questioned the withholding of the report and argued that proper procedures had not been followed.

ANC chief whip Martin White expressed concern that the municipality could face legal action if due process was ignored.

The Sol Plaatje Community Forum has already opened criminal charges against Matlala relating to alleged irregular tenders on August 31.

Northern Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Tebogo Thebe confirmed that a docket had been received this week.

“It appears to be related to an existing investigation into R6.8 million that was paid by Sol Plaatje Municipality to Kapa Koni Investments for the upgrading of the Eagle Street pump station. We confirm that there is an ongoing investigation into this matter that is expected to be finalised soon,” said Thebe.

Sol Plaatje Community Forum member Tumelo Mosikare said he met with Matlala at the Kimberley Club on August 27.

“He retorted that he would not be going anywhere as there was ‘no case against him’. That’s when we opened charges. At the police station, we discovered that Matlala is already being investigated by the Public Protector, Hawks and Special Investigating Unit,” said Mosikare.

He claimed that the CFO had to be subpoenaed after allegedly being instructed not to disclose information to the Hawks.

“It shows us that Matlala is running the show,” he said.

Mosikare also criticised the municipality for targeting “elderly and poverty-stricken ratepayers” through four debt collection companies appointed “to harass them.”

Forum member Clifford Sekgoro said authorities were in denial about the state of the municipality.

“They pretend that everything is fine. An investigation is long overdue. It will be like ripping open a can of worms — many have enriched themselves with millions in an irregular manner. Sol Plaatje Municipality will be a ticking time bomb if the municipal manager is not removed.”

Pantsi Obusitse from the Community Forum and Operation Wanya Tsotsi warned that continued inaction could push residents to the streets.

“We will meet in the streets,” he said.

Millicent Wolfe, convener of Women Waging War against gender-based violence and femicide, said leaders who failed to act against Matlala were accomplices to wrongdoing and should be charged for neglecting their duties.

“People cannot do as they please. The municipal manager has a case to answer to law enforcement agencies. We are not bound by processes or protocols and will station community members to prevent him from entering the municipality. We are not being malicious. The consequences are of his own doing — he must not play the victim,” she said.

Forum member Kgakgamotse Motebe alleged double standards, warning that evidence could be interfered with while Matlala had free access to municipal offices.

“An ordinary worker would have been fired a long time ago if faced with the same allegations. We will help the municipality to do what is right, as they are unable to do it themselves. Employees who are at risk of being intimidated have not been protected.”

Kimberley Action Group member Herbert Miller also questioned the lack of urgency in suspending Matlala.

“In the meantime, people are suffering and the community is being held ransom.” 

Mayor Martha Bartlett acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations.

“There are many voices, with the unanimous message that ‘Matlala must go’. Whatever decision is made will be in the interests of the community and the city.”

She said Matlala had submitted a five-page summary and nine bulky files in response to allegations contained in a Sunday World report.

“We are busy going through the contents. While we will not release this information in the public domain for now, we are not taking the allegations lightly.”

Bartlett explained that she was speaking “out of desperation” when she previously said: “If Matlala goes, I might as well pack my bags and go.”

“I cannot do that, I am here to serve the community. I am a born-again Christian and I do not find satisfaction in anyone’s downfall, regardless of whether it is of their own doing. I am pained by what is happening at the municipality.“

She said she was disturbed by reports of the alleged Kimberley Club meeting between Matlala and Mosikare.

“Even if it is hearsay and it happened after hours, it is disturbing. What he said was wrong. I will speak to him, as he is a representative of the municipality.”

Bartlett said the municipality had a history of similar complaints and “lessons needed to be learnt”.

“No one says Matlala must not go. However, processes must be followed to prevent comebacks. It is not the mayor’s intention to defend the municipal manager,” she said in an attempt to pacify community leaders. 

She added that an investigator would be appointed.

Matlala referred media enquiries to the Office of the Mayor.

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