‘Good guys’ punished
ANTI-CORRUPTION: ANC COUNCILLORS CHARGED FOR TAKING A STAND
Manager involved in employing ‘ghost workers’ being brought to book.
The ANC in the Free State’s Mangaung region has charged several councillors, including the speaker, for supporting opposition parties’ motion to have senior manager David Nkaiseng suspended for bringing in ghost workers at the metro.
The Citizen has seen letters dated 12 May, which were sent to at least four councillors – speaker Stefani Lockman-Naidoo, Mpho Mokoakoa, Chabeli Rampai and Puseletso Seleke.
Mokoakoa, Rampai and Seleke were charged with “insubordinate and insolent” conduct in that they “openly defied the directive of the chief whip [Vumile Nikelo] and the regional interim committee deployee [former agriculture MEC] Mathabo Leeto by declaring that you are going to vote as per your individual conscience on the matter which the caucus had resolved on that it will not be tabled before that council meeting”.
A second charge accused them of being involved in tabling and supporting the motion to suspend Nkaiseng and further voting in favour of it along with the opposition parties in council in March.
Lockman-Naidoo was charged for “knowingly and intentionally” defying the resolution of the ANC caucus as the speaker by including Nkaiseng’s matter in the agenda of council although it was never tabled before the whippery.
The party further accused her of facilitating the debate on Nkaiseng’s conduct during the March council sitting.
The disciplinary hearings will be heard next month.
Nkaiseng was investigated for allegedly spearheading the appointments and payment of ghost workers, who include Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s brother, Jabu, and regional coordinator Sabelo Pitso.
An independent report by attorneys Matlho Inc directed the metro to lay charges against him for flouting municipal laws and illegally appointing political staffers, who were found to have never reported for work, but cost at least R9 million a month in salaries.
At last week’s sitting, the council instructed acting city manager Tebogo Motlashuping to initiate charges.
Other officials against whom charges were recommended are human resources development manager Nzimeni Maswabi and employment manager Thabang Joseph Mpeli.
An ANC councillor not facing charges said the region’s leadership was targeting people “because they took a stand against corruption”.
“The president of the ANC always speaks about isolating the corrupt and getting rid of corruption, but Mangaung region goes ahead and charges those trying to fix the organisation. “This is a witch hunt led by individuals who won’t let go of the levers of corruption,” he said, refusing to be named for fear of reprisal.
Interim regional committee spokesperson Ncamile Nxangisa said: “Councillors cannot do as they please; the centre must hold.
“There was a decision the ANC was comfortable with, led by the chief whip, who takes instructions from the organisation.”
He said councillors should disseminate the party message, and not the opposite.
“You are at liberty as an individual to voice support ... either at party structures or in the caucus, and subject yourself to democratic processes, in that when you raise your view and the majority do not agree, you must accept that.”
When asked whether the party in Mangaung was committed to fighting corruption, he said: “If party members do as they wish and are not in sync with what was communicated by the chief whip, then we would have problems … and that would not necessarily mean we are not supporting the renewal and unity project of the organisation.”
Councillors cannot do as they please