MK vs Madibeng: Calls Grow to Dissolve Troubled Municipality Amid Corruption Claims

The MK party wants answers, and they want them now

Pressure is mounting in the Northwest province as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party demands urgent national intervention into what it describes as “a crisis of accountability” in the Madibeng Local Municipality.

At the centre of the storm is Madibeng’s mayor, Douglas Maimane, who stands accused of making irregular senior appointments, bypassing due processes, and allegedly misusing municipal resources for personal benefit. The MK party is now calling on the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to step in and dissolve the entire council.

“Act or we’ll press charges,” warns MK

MK’s North West provincial convenor, Alfred Motsi, did not mince words when addressing the situation. He warned that if the Madibeng council failed to hold Maimane accountable, criminal charges would be laid.

The main allegation? That Maimane facilitated the appointment of multiple senior municipal officials without involving human resources or following the correct selection processes. One such case is the appointment of Quiet Kgatla as municipal manager, a move that raised eyebrows when it was revealed that Kgatla’s qualifications did not align with the job requirements.

He has since been suspended, but that only led to more controversy. According to Motsi, the acting manager who replaced him, Daniel Masemola, allegedly does not even possess a matric certificate.

A municipal bakkie, a farm road, and a cover-up?

One of the more explosive claims involves a municipal Isuzu bakkie, which was reportedly being used to carry animal feed on Maimane’s private farm. The vehicle, with registration KPX 120 NW, was involved in an accident in Madinyane village in Ward 34 on 17 September 2024.

It had apparently been driven by a non-municipal employee: someone linked to Maimane personally, not professionally. The MK party claims the incident was reported to the Madibeng council, but no disciplinary or legal action followed.

The police report confirmed that the driver was not an official employee, which meant the insurance claim was rejected due to a clear breach of municipal fleet policy. That policy states that only authorised municipal employees can be assigned vehicles by the fleet manager.

Investigations now under way

National and provincial authorities have since taken notice. Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa ordered a formal investigation into the municipality following mounting concerns around corruption, mismanagement, and unlawful appointments.

Notably, North West’s MEC for Cooperative Governance, Saliva Molapisi, also launched a separate probe, even though his own office had previously investigated these same issues and withheld a report that confirmed irregularities.

The MK party claims this inaction reflects a systemic failure to govern and says they will no longer remain silent while basic principles of governance are allegedly being ignored.

Is Madibeng heading for a national takeover?

With both national and provincial departments now involved, there is growing public speculation, particularly on local forums and political corners of social media, about whether Madibeng could be placed under administration or if the NCOP will dissolve the council entirely.

While no such decision has yet been announced, the MK party insists the council’s credibility has been compromised beyond repair. If their demands are not met, they say they’ll take their case further, possibly into the courts.

What this means for residents

Residents of Madibeng, which includes towns such as Brits and Hartbeespoort, are no strangers to controversy. The municipality has had a history of governance challenges, water disruptions, and service delivery backlogs.

But this latest saga hits at the heart of local democracy. When senior appointments are allegedly made without qualifications, and official resources are reportedly used for personal gain, it raises serious questions about the protection of public interest.

For now, the MK party is demanding accountability. Whether action follows remains to be seen.

Also read: Eastern Cape Taxi Conductor Gets 4 Life Terms for Brutal Rapes – Victims Speak Out

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com

Source: The Citizen

Featured Image: Facebook/uMkhonto Wesizwe MK Party Official