SECURITY frog-marched mayor Tebogo Afrika out of his former office, while a tussle took place when he was pushed and shoved when entering the Phokwane municipal offices this week.
Councillors added that a manager’s meeting was disrupted on Tuesday and could not proceed.
“The officials against whom an interdict was obtained tried to occupy their old offices, whereupon security and the police were called in to remove them for contravening the court order. The officials have keys to their old offices as well as the entrance to the municipality. There was an attempt to vandalise the gate at the entrance ”
An interim urgent interdict was obtained against Afrika, Speaker Portia Selogilwe and acting municipal manager Busiswe Mgaguli on January 7 after the majority councillors voted them out.
Last week, Judge Lawrence Lever removed conditions of the interdict that restrained Afrika, Selogilwe and Mgaguli from unlawfully acting and/or assuming the roles and responsibilities as the mayor, Speaker and acting municipal manager.
Forum4Service delivery councillor and regional co-ordinator Moeketsi Ntema pointed out that the court had prohibited the current Phokwane mayor, Olebogeng Tumodi, Speaker Goitsemodimo Halter and acting municipal manager Mpho Mojaki from making permanent appointments while critical posts needed to be filled such as the technical director, community services director and chief financial officer.
“Afrika, Selogilwe and Mgaguli are only supposed to be ordinary councillors at the municipality.”
He added that the municipality was plagued by legal and political battles that were impeding the functioning of the municipality.
“Why is Phokwane Municipality so highly contested? When last did Premier Zamani Saul visit Hartswater, Pampierstad or Jan Kempdorp? Yet, immense effort and monetary resources are spent in the battle for Phokwane. The ANC splashed lavishly to appoint advocate Barry Roux to represent officials in the court cases. There is widespread confusion on both court decisions of January 7 and 13.”
Ntema stated that the opposition benches would do everything in their power to prevent the council coffers from being looted.
“We want a ghost tender that was procured for security services that was awarded to a company in 2021 that was not registered to be investigated. The opposition is united and is focused on service delivery. We are intent on preserving and protecting Phokwane and to serve the community.”
The ANC did not respond to media enquiries.
