Officials ‘shoot down’ Matjhabeng's turnaround efforts

Mayor resists call for accountability

- By Bongani Mdakane [e-mail]

Matjhabeng Municipality is giving Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae a tough time.

(Gallo Images)

The leadership of the troubled Matjhabeng local municipality in the Free State, including mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha, municipal manager Thabo Panyani, ANC councillors and officials, is reportedly defying Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae and the provincial exco representative (PER) by not implementing the strategy designed to improve the municipality's dire financial situation.

Matjhabeng, which falls under the Lejweleputswa District Municipality, covers areas such as Welkom, Virginia, Odendaalsrus and Allanridge.

It was placed under administration in May last year due to corruption, maladministration, service delivery failures and its inability to meet its governance and administrative obligations.

Sunday World has established that Khalipha and his supporters have allegedly been hostile towards the PER led by Makalo Mohale, the former MEC of education in the province, appointed to help implement the turnaround strategy plan devised as a remedy to Matjhabeng's governance and administrative woes.