Tswaing acting municipal manager ordered to repay irregular salary after forensic probe exposes contract breach

A salary dispute that exposes deeper governance cracks

A forensic investigation has rocked the Tswaing Local Municipality after findings revealed irregular salary payments and an unlawful extension of a senior official’s contract.

At the centre of the case is acting municipal manager Sello Maroga, who has now been instructed to repay money he received outside of the legal framework governing his secondment.

What began as a temporary administrative intervention has now turned into a wider accountability issue inside the municipality.

How the secondment was meant to work

Maroga was seconded to Tswaing by the provincial MEC for cooperative governance, housing and traditional affairs, following concerns raised by mayor Norah Mahlangu about management challenges in the municipality.

His appointment ran from 1 November 2024 to 30 June 2025, stepping in after the suspension of the municipal manager Shadrack Mere, who was facing disciplinary proceedings.

During this period, Maroga was given full powers as acting municipal manager to stabilise administration.

Forensic probe uncovers financial irregularities

However, an investigation ordered by the provincial MEC uncovered serious discrepancies in how Maroga was compensated.

Instead of receiving only a top-up allowanceas required under secondment rules to bridge the gap between provincial and municipal salarieshe was paid the full municipal manager’s salary.

This directly contravened local government financial regulations.

The probe also revealed that the Tswaing council unlawfully extended his secondment beyond the agreed end date, pushing it to 31 August 2025, even though his provincial contract had already expired.

That extension, investigators concluded, had no legal standing.

Council decisions under scrutiny

The forensic report found that the municipal council passed a special resolution to continue covering Maroga’s salary beyond the authorised period.

Investigators, however, said this decision amounted to misrepresentation and violated regulatory frameworks governing public expenditure.

Crucially, there was no instruction from the provincial department authorising the municipality to pay the full salary during the disputed period.

This meant the extensionand the payments attached to itwere legally invalid.

Calls for repayment and accountability

The investigation recommended that all irregular payments made to Maroga be recovered without delay.

It also instructed the municipality to provide a detailed written explanation of how the payments were processed and why they should not be classified as wasteful and fruitless expenditure.

In addition, Maroga has been required to submit a full account of steps taken to inform the mayor, the MEC, and the Auditor-General about the irregular payments.

Mayor Mahlangu had already written to him demanding repayment of the funds, signalling growing pressure for accountability at leadership level.

A broader governance concern in local municipalities

The findings at Tswaing reflect a recurring challenge in parts of South Africa’s local government system, where administrative decisions and financial controls often come under scrutiny.

Municipal managers play a critical role in service delivery and financial oversight, making contract compliance and transparent payroll systems essential for public trust.

When those systems are bypassed or misinterpreted, the consequences extend beyond individual officialsthey affect service delivery, budgets, and community confidence.

Public reaction: frustration over accountability gaps

On platforms such as X and Facebook, reactions have been sharply critical.

Many users expressed frustration that irregular spending continues to surface in municipalities already struggling with service delivery pressures.

Others called for stricter consequences for both officials and councils involved in approving unlawful financial decisions.

What happens next for Tswaing

The municipality now faces the task of recovering funds, responding to the forensic findings, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations going forward.

For residents of Tswaing, the case raises familiar questions about oversight, accountability, and whether corrective action will lead to lasting administrative change.

A warning sign for local governance systems

While the case focuses on one official’s salary dispute, the broader issue lies in governance discipline.

The findings highlight how easily procedural deviationsif uncheckedcan escalate into financial irregularities requiring forensic intervention.

As recovery steps begin, the spotlight remains firmly on Tswaing’s leadership and whether the municipality can restore confidence in its administrative systems.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com