Busiswe Mgaguli’s contract was extended from January until March 31.
THE Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) on Friday indicated that the decision to extend the contract of the Acting Municipal Manager at Phokwane Municipality, Busiswe Mgaguli, was “in line with a council resolution” taken by council.
Mgaguli’s contract was extended from January until March 31 while the Phokwane Forum for Service Delivery and the Forum4Service Delivery insisted that a council resolution was taken to appoint Mpho Mojaki as the Acting Municipal Manager on December 23.
They believed that provincial government was interfering with the administration of council.
The Mayor, Olebogeng Tumodi, the Speaker, Goitsemodimo Halter and Acting Municipal Manager, Mpho Mojaki are refusing to leave their positions unless they are removed by way of a council decision.
The majority of councillors brought a motion of no confidence against the Speaker, Portia Selogilwe and Mayor, Tebogo Afrika and appointed Mojaki as the Acting Municipal Manager.
Chaos erupted at Phokwane Municipality on December 5 where members of the police as well as the new Acting Municipal Manager and Speaker were allegedly locked inside an office of the municipality while the keys were hidden to prevent anyone from opening the door.
This follows after the police were apparently notified that a municipal vehicle was being used by the former mayor, without permission.
Meanwhile the former Speaker, Portia Selogilwe and former Mayor, Tebogo Afrika claimed that they were assaulted by bodyguards on December 5, while trying to enter the municipality.
The police confirmed that the Hartswater SAPS were investigating a case of assault common with regards to the matter.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Coghsta, Babalwa Mzambo, stated that the municipality requested the intervention of the MEC’s office to second a suitable person to act in the advertised position of municipal manager, until the vacancy had been filled.
“The Acting Municipal Manager (Mgaguli) was therefore appointed as per that request and according to the Act quoted above.
“The MEC works with the council as a collective and does not interfere with the day to day operations of the council and the municipality. This means that the decision taken by the MEC to appoint the current Acting Municipal Manager was in line with the resolution taken by council.”
