Mashemaite wasn’t axed says ANC

MOKOPANE - “Mashemaite is still the mayor,” regional ANC Secretary, Morris Mataboga told Northern News on Wednesday after a week of speculation and media reports that the ANC has recalled Thlalefi Mashemaite as Mogalakwena mayor.
The Sowetan this week reported that Mashemaite has been recalled and that former Lephalale municipal manager, Parks Sebatjane, who is a member of the ANC’s provincial executive, were to be deployed in his place.
Meanwhile the DA in Mogalakwena has reacted to the Sowetan report saying it “welcomes the recent development in the withdrawal of Cllr Mashamaite in the on-going saga of the Municipality.”
The party also called for the further suspention of the rest of the counsillors implica-ted in a KPMG forensic audit report. “We also call on Minister Pravin Gordhan and MEC Makoma Makhurupetja to ensure that the incumbent will be a well capable and qualified individual and not just another deployee as this will be Mogalakwena’s fifth Mayor in almost five years.”
A spokesperson for the provincial ANC also denied that any decision to recall Mashemaite had been taken.
Mataboga earlier told Northern News steps will only be taken against concillors once an independent audit of the municipality's affairs has been carried out. He explained that the KPMG audit will have to be reviewed by an alternative auditor of similar standing before it can carry any weight with the ANC. “The KPMG audit was commissioned by illigtimate councillors with a specific political agenda. The new council will have to commission a new audit or at least a review of the KPMG report,” he said. “If such an independant report implicates Mashemaite or any other councillor, the ANC will take measures on the strength of that report.”