Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Tim Mpakathe.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mantsopa Local Municipality will take decisive action to ensure that the Free State Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) investigation report is tabled before the council without delay.
The report implicates the Municipal Manager in the unlawful lease of land in Excelsior to the former ANC councillor for 24 years.
The DA has already submitted an affidavit to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the relevant authorities, compelling the Speaker to convene a Special Council Meeting to address the findings of this report.
We are dismayed by the tactics employed by the Speaker of the council, Mvuyo Ncwada, and his ally, Mayor Mamsie Tsoene, to conceal the investigation report compiled by the Free State Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) from being tabled before the council on 30 October 2025.
On 10 October 2025, COGTA submitted its investigation report to the Speaker’s office in Ladybrand.
The report stipulates that the municipal manager contravened section 217 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, sections 14 and 33 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, section 60 of the Municipal Systems Act, and the municipality’s supply chain management policy and asset management policy.
The report further recommends that the unlawful lease agreement entered into by the Municipal Manager without proper authorisation and in breach of legislative and procedural requirements be declared null and void.
Immediate steps should be taken to recover and secure the municipal land, including initiating eviction proceedings against the lessee, reporting the transaction as irregular and unauthorised expenditure, and instituting disciplinary measures against the Municipal Manager.
We cannot wait for another ordinary council meeting in the next three months. The Speaker must call a special council meeting to deal with this report.