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Limpopo mayor under investigation after leaked ‘stealing’ audio surfaces
A voice note, a tense exchange, and a single line that has now travelled across WhatsApp groups and social media timelines in Limpopo.
The African National Congress in the Peter Mokaba Region has confirmed it is investigating a leaked audio clip allegedly featuring Maria Thamaga, mayor of Blouberg Local Municipality. In the recording, a voice believed to be hers is heard during a heated discussion with a woman said to be an ANC ward councillor.
At the centre of the storm is an alleged admission that has left many residents stunned.
What is heard on the clip
In the circulating recording, the mayor allegedly speaks about giving councillors R3,000 the previous week to help ensure attendance at a branch meeting. That meeting is believed to have been linked to efforts to put her name forward for the ANC Provincial Executive Committee, which could help secure her continued position as mayor.
The councillor in the clip responds that the meeting did not go ahead because there was no transport to collect community members from several villages. She explains that she often uses her own car to transport residents from around nine villages and that on that particular day, she had to assist someone with a court appearance.
The exchange grows tense. The councillor accuses the mayor of criticising her while referencing municipal money. In response, the voice alleged to be Thamaga’s says she is not taking municipal funds but is “busy stealing” in order to give money to councillors so that they would be supportive. She also allegedly states that failing to do so could cost her the mayoral position.
The clip does not indicate where the money supposedly came from. It is also unclear exactly when or where the meeting mentioned was meant to take place.
ANC launches internal investigation
Rudolph Rapetswa, spokesperson for the ANC’s Peter Mokaba Region, confirmed that the party is aware of the audio. He says the organisation will not jump to conclusions.
According to Rapetswa, an internal investigation has been launched to establish whether the recording is authentic. He notes that with modern technology, including artificial intelligence tools, voice recordings can be manipulated, and the party wants to verify the origin and authenticity of the clip before drawing any conclusions.
He adds that the ANC will engage with Thamaga directly as part of the process. The party is also seeking to trace where the recording originated.
Rapetswa explains that many ANC deployees and branch leaders in rural wards voluntarily use their own resources, such as providing transport to meetings. He stresses that this is done voluntarily and is not a party instruction.
On the question of the branch meeting mentioned in the audio, he says the ANC Provincial Executive Committee has set out a roadmap towards a provincial conference. Branches may request permission to hold meetings during this period. However, he cannot confirm whether the specific meeting referred to in the clip was officially scheduled.
Opposition calls for charges
While the ANC focuses on verifying the clip, opposition parties in Limpopo are taking a firmer stance.
The Economic Freedom Fighters in Limpopo say they intend to open a theft case at the local police station and submit a motion of no confidence against Thamaga. Provincial chairperson Lawrence Mapoulo says the party is not surprised by the allegations and argues that service delivery in the municipality has deteriorated, with some projects reportedly left incomplete.
Build One South Africa in the Capricorn district has also called for the mayor to step aside. Its district chairperson, Ngako Setjie, has called for a forensic and independent investigation into municipal finances and procurement processes. He, too, has indicated that a theft case will be opened with the police in Polokwane.
These calls come as local government elections are expected later this year. Thamaga, who assumed office in 2021 after the last municipal elections, is due to see her term conclude in 2026.
A political moment under the spotlight
In Limpopo’s rural municipalities, branch meetings and internal party processes are often deeply intertwined with community dynamics. Access to transport, funding for logistics, and political loyalty can carry significant weight, particularly as conference season approaches.
This latest controversy lands at a sensitive time. With internal ANC processes underway and elections looming, even an unverified recording can shift political ground.
For now, the ANC says it will complete its internal investigation before taking any action. It has also stated that if it becomes aware of public funds being used improperly to influence internal processes, the person involved would be recalled without hesitation.
Until the authenticity of the clip is confirmed, the story remains one of allegation and investigation. But in Blouberg and across Limpopo, the debate is already underway.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Facebook/Blouberg Local Municipality
