Matlosana ANC councillors shield graft-accused CFO

A faction of ANC councillors are obstructing efforts to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the conduct of corruption-accused City of Matlosana chief financial officer Mercy Phetla, and the ANC top brass in North West are scrambling for a resolution to save face.

- By Setumo Stone

Notably, Sunday World understands that the provincial ANC chairperson Nono Maloyi and the secretary, Louis Diremelo, have received briefings on the dispute, and consequently, a meeting of the ANC troika and regional officials in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda region resolved on Wednesday night that the council must sit soon to consider the matter.

The sitting is scheduled for this coming Wednesday. Questions sent to Maloyi, Diremelo and ANC spokesperson Tumelo Maruping were not answered.

During a special council sitting on Thursday, March 13, the meeting noted the report of a joint ad hoc committee comprising municipal public accounts committee and audit committee members, which recommended that Phetla face disciplinary steps for alleged financial misconduct.

But when the DA and other opposition proposed that the council take a resolution to empower the municipal manager to act against Phetla, who is out on bail after two arrests by the Hawks, the ANC councillors pushed back and voted against the motion. According to DA councillor Gerhard Strydom, “She is being politically protected by the ANC to avoid a full investigation.”