Kekana's reinstatement

MOGALAKWENA – Skeptics’ believed on Friday that the North-Gauteng high court ruling to reinstate the suspended former municipal manager, Willy Kekana, in his position at the Mogalakwena Municipality was an April fool’s joke. It was was no joke.
The latest court ruling indicated that Willy Kekana’s suspension was illegal and that Makoma Makhurpetje, MEC of Cooperative governance for human settlement and traditional affairs (Coghsta), acted wrongfully by suspending Kekana in 2015. The court decided to set aside his suspension and Kekana should resume his duties as manager.
Kekana was suspended last year on
account of 19 charges of misconduct following disciplinary hearings at the end of March 2015. He denied any wrongdoing.
Members of the Mogalakwena Residents Association (MRA) and the Democratic Alliance in Limpopo welcomed the ruling and many workers said that they are relieved about the outcome.
Kekana has, however, not yet taken
office following further disputes and the MEC’s alleged appeal to the court ruling. 
The municipality has been embroiled in trouble for years due to political infighting within the ANC. Disruption in the municipa-lity initially started about three years ago after Kekana refused to be part of alleged corruption. It is believed that municipal funds were misused and according to a forensic audit, Tlhalefi Mashamaite, the mayor at the time, unlawfully spent millions of rands.
Current Mayor, Parks Sebatjane, who was appointed by the ANC last year, is facing mounting pressure as the MRA has claimed that the municipality’s finances are even worse off at present.
 The ANC’s Nocks Seabi said the party respects the court ruling, but are working through the ruling with its legal representatives.
In the meanwhile, the municipality is in the grip of a strike.