Ngwathe Municipality under increasing pressure: AfriForum demands investigation
AfriForum is demanding an urgent, proper, and independent investigation into the growing number of serious allegations regarding financial and administrative irregularities at the Ngwathe Local Municipality. This call follows allegations concerning the involvement of former mayor Victoria de Beer-Mthombeni and her husband in a multi-million-rand tender extortion scheme that is currently being investigated by the Hawks.
According to AfriForum, various other issues – including a court ruling declaring the Municipal Manager’s appointment invalid; the municipality’s failure to report on time in compliance with a court order; and concerning findings by the Auditor-General (AG) – already point to potential serious irregularities that require investigation.
In the latest storm to erupt around the former mayor, it is alleged, among other things, that De Beer-Mthombeni demanded R3 million from a contractor in exchange for retaining a R58 million municipal water contract.
According to Alta Pretorius, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for the Mooi River region, these allegations must now be investigated urgently and without political or administrative interference.
Moreover, this follows shortly after the Free State High Court declared the Ngwathe Municipal Council’s appointment of Futhuli Patrick Mothamaha as Municipal Manager irrational, invalid, and void on 2 October. Mothamaha has indicated that he intends to apply for leave to appeal.
“It is difficult to accept that more public funds could be spent on litigation to try to defend an appointment that the court has already set aside, while the municipality’s residents contend with poor service delivery on a daily basis. Public funds should be utilised for the benefit of the community,” says Pretorius.
AfriForum is furthermore deeply concerned that the first report, which was required to be submitted to the court in terms of the court order regarding the intervention at the municipality, has still not been presented. AfriForum’s legal team has already formally called upon the parties responsible regarding this matter.
Pretorius further argues that the AG’s announcement last November – revealing that the municipality incurred more than R105 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure and over R143 million in unauthorised expenditure during the 2024/2025 financial year – must also be taken into account when investigating the municipality’s failures.
Schalk Burger, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Parys branch, maintains that when the court, the AG, and now also a Hawks investigation raise serious questions about various aspects of local government, residents cannot be satisfied with further excuses. “Every credible allegation must be investigated, and where evidence of wrongdoing exists, those responsible must be held accountable – regardless of their position or political affiliation,” Pretorius emphasises.
Schalk Burger, voorsitter van AfriForum se Parys-tak, hou vol datwanneer die hof, die OG en nou ook ’n Valke-ondersoek ernstige vrae oor verskillende aspekte van plaaslike bestuur laat ontstaan, kan inwoners nie met nóg verskonings tevrede wees nie. “Elke geloofwaardige bewering moet ondersoek word en waar bewyse van oortredings bestaan, moet die verantwoordelike persone aanspreeklik gehou word – ongeag hul posisie of politieke verbintenis,” verduidelik hy.
“The residents of the Ngwathe Municipality have suffered under poor leadership for long enough. It is time for justice and accountability,” Pretorius concludes.
AfriForum will continue to monitor the court order and the intervention at the Ngwathe Municipality and will take further steps where necessary to enforce transparency, proper management and accountability.
AfriForum calls on the community to remain involved, report wrongdoing, and work together to hold local government accountable. Contact Schalk Burger, Chairperson of AfriForum’s Parys branch (082 653 4281), to get involved.
