HOOPSTAD – The alleged illegal occupation of state-owned property by Tswelopele Local Municipality Mayor Kenalemang Rose Phukuntsi is under scrutiny.
Dr Igor Scheurkogel, DA member of parliament has raised alarm following the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s failure to provide adequate answers regarding the matter.
The controversy centres around 4 Cooper Street, Hoopstad, after enquiries from community members about the property’s ownership. In September 2025, it was confirmed that the property (Erf 355, Hoopstad) is registered in the name of the Free State Provincial Government and vested in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Despite the state ownership, Mayor Phukuntsi has occupied the house since 2014 and has made alterations and extensions to the property.
Occupancy since 2014
DA councillors formally tabled the matter at a Tswelopele Municipal Council meeting in October 2025, but the ANC-run council dismissed the issue, claiming it was not a municipal matter and should be addressed at provincial level.
Following the council’s dismissal, Scheurkogel wrote to the Free State Provincial Government seeking clarity on the property’s ownership and lawful occupation. The answers he received include that the house remains registered under the Free State Provincial Government, and that in December 2014, the Department decided to dispose of five vacant houses via open tender, including this property.
Physical verification revealed the houses were already occupied, with the property in question occupied by Phukuntsi. The Department is currently identifying and verifying all provincially owned properties to determine appropriate disposal methods.
Physical verification revealed
However, the Department failed to address key questions regarding the legality of the mayor’s occupation, whether any lease, purchase agreement, or approval exists, and whether preferential treatment was granted, says Scheurkogel.
DA Councillor Louise Verwey stated that the matter highlights concerns about accountability and transparency. In the absence of clear legislative authority, Dr Scheurkogel will refer the matter to the Public Protector and the Hawks for investigation into possible breaches of the Public Finance Management Act and related legislation.
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