Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Eric Motloung and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Marius Marais
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State firmly opposes any move by the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality (TMDM) to fill the Director: Community Services and LED position through the current re-advertisement, as a legal challenge to the rescission of the previous appointment remains unresolved.
Ms Mantsebo Mookgo Theko Tshabalala’s appointment was rescinded in December 2025 following MEC TZ Mokoena’s directive on procedural flaws. She has since challenged this as unlawful, arguing that no MEC concurrence is required under the 2014 Senior Managers Regulations. With litigation pending and the re-advertisement on 27 February 2026, proceeding risks further disputes, additional municipal costs, and a disregard for due process. If the correct legal and administrative processes are not followed, scarce municipal funds could be wasted on flawed appointments and avoidable court action, ultimately undermining service delivery, particularly in a critical department such as Community Services.
The DA consistently demands that municipal appointments be halted during pending legal challenges to uphold the rule of law and avoid compounding irregularities. We have successfully challenged similar flawed processes in municipalities such as Msunduzi, eThekwini, and others, seeking reversals or reviews to ensure transparency and accountability.
We urge Executive Mayor Cllr C.A. Msibi and the Municipal Manager to immediately withdraw the re-advertisement and await the court’s resolution. The DA will monitor the process closely and pursue oversight measures if necessary to protect good governance and service delivery for the residents of Thabo Mofutsanyana.