Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Thinus Blignaut and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL
The Democratic Alliance demands full transparency and accountability from Nketoana Local Municipality over millions of rand spent on legal costs and will continue pressing for comprehensive information to be submitted to Council.
During the Executive Committee Meeting of 19 June 2026, item 014/06, dealing with the municipality’s legal costs, was discussed. According to the report, legal costs for the period 1 July 2024 to 31 July 2025 amounted to R4,407,149.31.
Of the 333 cases handled during the relevant period, only nine cases were allocated to five other attorneys, while 324 cases were allocated to a single law firm. This raises serious questions about how the municipality’s appointed panel of attorneys is being utilised and whether legal matters are being allocated in a fair and transparent manner.
Furthermore, a contingent liability of R19,327,305.59 was reported for December 2025, raising further concerns about the financial risk posed by litigation to the municipality.
The DA requested that comprehensive information regarding the nature, status, costs and allocation of these cases be submitted to Council.
These costs matter directly to Nketoana voters because every rand spent on avoidable litigation is money that cannot be directed towards essential services and community needs.
The DA believes these expenses may point to serious administrative problems and will continue to demand answers until residents receive full transparency and accountability regarding Nketoana’s legal expenditure.