I am being persecuted says suspended Sol CFO
THE SUSPENDED chief financial officer of Sol Plaatje Municipality, Lydia Mahloko, has for the first time spoke out since her suspension, calling for a public hearing.
Mahloko, in a letter written to the DFA, said yesterday that according to media reports the Section 106 investigation into alleged irregularities at the municipality has made recommendations that she, together with other senior municipal officials, should be charged with various acts of misconduct.
“It is stated in a newspaper article that the Section 106 report, which is still to be published by the MEC for Coghsta, has made recommendations that I, together with other senior municipal executives, should be charged with various acts of misconduct, and myself specifically be charged with further charges of a criminal nature.”
Mahloko said she could not confirm nor deny that the newspaper had published the correct recommendations as she had not seen the report yet.
“However, I would like to categorically state that I have committed no act of misconduct nor have I acted in any corrupt manner in doing my work at the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
“I would also like to say that if what is written in the media is true in terms of the recommendations of the report, I would welcome with open arms an opportunity to appear before a disciplinary committee appointed by the MEC or whatever relevant authority.”
Mahloko added that she was also not opposed to being taken to court “so that I can clear my name”.
“I am of the firm belief that this whole thing is nothing but a continuation of the persecution that I am subjected to at the Sol Plaatje Municipality for my principled and vociferous determination to see transformation taking place,” Mahloko said.
“I have been persecuted for advocating without fear or favour for the following: women empowerment; small contractor development and the breaking of monopolistic holds on certain big contracts; the empowerment of local businesses; putting the community first; compliance and last, but not least, my refusal to be a pawn in political factional battles.”
Mahloko said she would not “change my principle stances on these matters for anybody or anything”.
Charged
“Further to this, I must remind all that I have not yet been charged nor suspended by council, 104 days since the council meeting that resolved to ‘consider putting myself on precautionary suspension’. I since submitted the requested reasons on the intent to put me on precautionary suspension and it is almost 90 days since those reasons were submitted, and no response has been made to date.”
“I believe that there is a need for all the facts to be put on the table and that my persecutors should have their say and I should be given my right to reply. I want a public hearing on this matter so that all the people of the Sol Plaatje municipal area and the world can hear first hand and live as the matters are deliberated upon.
“I am confident that I will be exonerated and I am confident that finally those who want to stop progress in the field of economic transformation and accelerated service delivery will be exposed for the evil that they have been putting the municipality through.
“I trust that my request for an open process would be supported by the people of Sol Plaatje and the beneficiaries of our work.
“I must state my disappointment to the committee for the glaring error which is a clear demonstration of bias and premeditated outcome based on hearsay of a disciplinary hearing that is yet to take place, that is, if council finds their findings to be of a serious nature whilst they have already found me guilty of a criminal offence.
“It is for this reason that I am stating that a public hearing of the disciplinary process will give an opportunity to those who have interest in this matter and are hellbent that a charge must be pressed against a person, otherwise council must reject the report and a forensic investigation be conducted, which again is a clear indication that a head is wanted down no matter what, and indeed the committee recklessly played into their hands without fairness and justice.”
The Section 106 report is due to be discussed at the next city council meeting. However, no date has yet been set for this meeting and copies of the report have also not been circulated to councillors.