NWDC in turmoil as MEC, interim board and chief executive clash

Lenkopane goes to court to shore up legitimacy of the board

- By Setumo Stone

The North West Development Corporation (NWDC) has been thrust into a governance crisis, with tensions escalating between MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism Bitsa Lenkopane, the interim board and CEO Mojalefa Nale.

The confrontation, which is expected to play out in the Mahikeng High Court on Thursday, stems from the MEC’s appointment of an interim board to restore oversight and accountability at the NWDC, which has been plagued by financial instability and governance deficiencies.

On July 7, Lenkopane exercised her authority as the shareholder representative of the North West government to appoint an interim board.

She explained in court papers: “I exercised my authority as the shareholder representative of the North West provincial government and appointed suitably qualified professionals to fill the vacancies by appointing them as members of the interim board for a period of six months, to restore oversight and stabilise operations.”