{"id":55262,"date":"2022-12-15T06:04:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T04:04:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/concern-over-leader-20221214-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T23:37:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T21:37:37","slug":"concern-over-leader-20221214-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/concern-over-leader-20221214-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Concern over leader"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A controversial city manager who was fired for financial misconduct <span>corrruption <\/span>from the Bitou municipality in Plettenberg Bay in 2012, has recently been appointed as municipal manager <span>to the most corrupt municipality <\/span>in the Free State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adv. Lonwabo Ngoqo will be the Matjhabeng municipality\u2019s <span>municipal <\/span>manager from January 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This municipality is <span>the Free State municipality <\/span>where the Hawks\u2019 investigations relating to corruption are most prevalent, and <span>has <\/span>is burdened with debt of R5.5 billion<span> are busy with the most corruption investigations and the Free State municipality with the largest debt burden of R5.5 billion<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ngoqo was fired in 2012 after he was found guilty in a disciplinary hearing of the financial misappropriation of municipal money. At the time, Ngoqo bought a plot of land with a municipal valuation of R2.4 million for R28 million. The land was acquired for the municipality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ngoqo, who contested his dismissal, approached the Labour Court and later the Constitutional Court to set aside his dismissal. Both <span>the <\/span>courts found that his dismissal was justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Due to his conviction and dismissal in terms of municipal legislation, he could not be considered for the position of <span>re-appointed as <\/span>municipal manager for ten years. That period expired <span>earlier <\/span>this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Piet Botha, DA council member, says the opposition parties in Matjhabeng have unanimously decided to oppose Ngoqo\u2019s new role<span> appointment<\/span>. A request from opposition parties for a secret ballot was rejected by the acting speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Botha says it was clear that some of the ANC council members were also dissatisfied with Ngoqo\u2019s nomination <span>appointment <\/span>for <span>in <\/span>this position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His appointment was approved by a vote of 29 to 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Botha says Thanduxolo Khalipa, the mayor of Matjhabeng, wanted to carry out Ngoqo\u2019s appointment at all costs even though Ngoqo had previously been dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Botha says the mayor promised with his inauguration that he would eradicate corruption and depoliticize the municipality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The municipality confirmed Ngoqo\u2019s appointment, saying he has more than 20 years of experience in local government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHis appointment reflects the municipality\u2019s intention to turn the institution into a professional and depoliticised institution,\u201d says Khalipa. 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