MEC accused of pushing cronies

Thanksgiving might be an American holiday but the six astronauts on the International Space Station are always up for a good feed… and what better opportunity than this to tuck into rehydrated turkey, stuffing, potatoes and vegetable bars this week. And while they couldn’t exactly clink champagne glasses, they were happy to raise a sachet of juice to their families on Earth. A LIMPOPO MEC is in hot water with the provincial government after she apparently tried to interfere with the appointment of an acting municipal manager at a local municipality.

Makoma Makhurupetje, MEC of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) is accused of seeking to influence the appointment of Sam Bambo as acting municipal manager at the Mogalakwena Local Municipality.

In a letter seen by the Tribune’s sister paper, the Sunday Independent, Makhurupetje wrote to the Mogalakwena mayor Adriana Matsemela recommending Bambo’s appointment as the acting municipal manager.

The letter was sent to Matsemela on October 19.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) provincial secretary Josey Buthane lodged a complaint with Mogalakwena council speaker Hlengani Mathebula that the appointment of Bambo was illegal.

Buthane accused the MEC of imposing her crony to push her agenda in the awarding of tenders.

In the letter, Mathebula said the decision to appoint Bambo was “null and void” urging the mayor not to implement it.

This is not the first time Makhurupetje has got into trouble for becoming involved in administrative appointments.

She was previously accused of interfering in the appointment of Chris Chamano, the former MEC of Public Works, as the municipal manager of Maruleng Municipality in Mopani Region without advertising the post.

Her department has also failed to use its R1.2 billion human settlements budget in the 2015/2016 financial year.

The department received a qualified audit opinion from the auditor-general, Kimi Makwetu.

DA provincial chairman and MPL, Langa Bodlani yesterday blasted Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha’s administration calling for all to step down.

“If this is true (MEC’s interference), this clearly shows that there is no proper oversight from the premier’s office and the provincial treasurer,” he said.

“The rot is too deep, the premier and his entire cabinet are complacent despite the administration collapsing… We cannot allow a situation where people are appointing their cronies to advance their personal agendas.”

Makhurupetje claimed she was not aware of her letter, nor that of the speaker when asked for comment yesterday.

She said: “I’m not going to comment… before establishing facts.”

The MEC is also accused of joining Mathabatha’s camp in the ANC to support Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the next president in order to save her job in Limpopo.

According to whistle-blowers, Makhurupetje’s cronies are awarding tenders to allies to gain control in the province in preparation for the ANC national elective conference to be held in December next year.

“I’m not going to comment about that,” Makhurupetje said when quizzed about this.

Mathabatha’s spokesman Phuti Seloba warned Makhurupetje would be fired if the allegations proved to be true.