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·      Disciplinary committee heard that CFO, Mercy Phetla, ordered a R528 000 payment to transport ANC members to its birthday celebration ·      The company, Variegated (Pty) Ltd, did not deliver any goods ·      ANC promises to discipline anyone who solicited funds in its name

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Sizwe sama Yende

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The ANC in the North-West has distanced itself from allegations that it asked for a R528 000 donation from the City of Matlosana to transport its members to the party’s January 8 celebration in Mbombela last year.

A disciplinary tribunal’s report recommending the dismissal of the municipality’s CFO, Mercy Phetla, reveals that juniors processed the payment to electrical materials company, Variegated (Pty) Ltd, without any goods being delivered.

According to the report, Tshidiso Lebelo who worked in the municipality’s stores department testified that an acting store controller, Girly Tsimane, called him to an office and informed him that Phetla wanted an order not exceeding R3 million to be generated.

“According to his testimony, this instruction communicated to him allegedly coming from their CFO was urgent,” the report reads.

Lebelo generated a purchase requisition, which he signed and Phetla approved.

This revelation implies that the ANC could have been liable for milking the City of Motlosana’s coffers. The ANC has emphatically denied this.

North-West ANC spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping, said that the ANC was aware that corruption was allegedly done in its name.

“Administration in municipalities must be allowed to exercise their functions without any interruptions from political organisations. The political leadership, whom in this case are our deployees, must play oversight. The ANC therefore remains committed to adhering to the rule of law,” Maruping said.

“The ANC cannot and has never made such request, not only to the CFO but anyone. It is not in the nature of the organisation’s operations to do such. If there may be individuals who, under the pretence of the ANC, did such, then they shall definitely face the might of the ANC Constitution in terms of Rule 25,” he added.

The disciplinary committee found Phetla guilty of:

·      Gross misconduct and dereliction duties relating to approval of R2.9 million to Variegated (Pty) Ltd in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act;

·      Authorising and making a payment above her threshold as CFO. Payments above R1.5 million must be authorised by the municipal manager;

·      Causing the municipality to incur an unauthorized, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the amount of R528 000;

·      Receiving a vehicle worth R1.4 million from a service provider in 2023 and failure to disclose receipt of the vehicle;

·      Failure to adhere to the code of conduct resulting in bringing the municipality into disrepute when she was arrested by the Hawks for corruption pertaining to the R1.4 million given to her as gratification by GMHM Construction and Projects.

City of Motlosana manager, Lesego Seametso, issued Phetla with a dismissal letter on January 23.

In a twist of events, the majority of councillors that include the EFF, ACDP and Patriotic Alliance have since voted to reinstate Phetla on February 4 – much to the chagrin of the DA.

The DA has announced that it would lay criminal charges against councillors who participated in voting in favour of Phetla’s reinstatement.

The party has indicated that it would bring charges under Section 119 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act.