Suspended Makhado councillor on drunk driving rap

A Limpopo ANC councillor, who was arrested and charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act after she allegedly hosted a drinking party during lockdown, is now under investigation for alleged involvement in a serious car accident.

Opposition parties are calling for Tebogo Mamarobela’s dismissal after her second arrest during lockdown, this time for alleged drunk driving on Sunday between 4am and 5am. “Mamorobela was arrested on the scene,” said Brigadier Motlafela Mojalefa.

“She was asked to appear in court the following day, on Monday,

after she was charged with reckless driving and drink driving. Her case was not enrolled on Monday after the prosecutor identified aspects that needed to be established and we are still investigating.”

In April, Mamarobela was found to have hosted a birthday party for herself, where she allegedly drank alcohol publicly with friends and colleagues. Photographs of her party were posted on social media. She appeared in court and was released on R1 000 bail.

A special council sitting in the Makhado municipality suspended her from council, pending an ethics committee hearing.

Yesterday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said it was preparing a letter for the municipality’s ethics committee chair to request her hearing be expedited so she could be permanently removed from her position.

“The people of Makhado deserve councillors who uphold the law and set a good example, not a serial offender who, while out on bail, commits a similar offence,” said DA caucus leader in the Makhado municipality, councillor Brian du Plooy.

Makhado mayor Samuel Munyai said the municipality had officially sanctioned an investigation into her conduct.

“If it’s found the councillor has indeed breached her code of conduct, we will haul her before the disciplinary hearing and report to the MEC for cooperative governance, Basikopo Makamu, for action in line with the recommendations of the disciplinary committee,” Munyai said.

Recently, ANC provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane said no councillor was above the law and the law must take its course.

“The ANC can not tolerate misbehaving councillors. In this party behaviour is everything, because the ANC leads and must lead by example,” he added.

Asked for comment, Mamarobela said: “I was not drunk during the accident. That is why I am here at home, nursing my wounds.”

Later she said: “Let me just say no comment because I know journalists, when we say this you write something else.”