Elmon Tshikhudo
The future of the mayor of Thulamela Municipality in Limpopo is hanging in the balance.
During a special council sitting held on Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Avhashoni Tshifhango and Municipal Manager Hlengani Maluleke were told to resign. This comes amid allegations of their involvement in the R30 million investment the municipality made with the now defunct VBS bank.
The National Treasury made some recommendations on the VBS findings and the report was escalated to the affected municipalities on steps to be taken.
Treasury findings were that the mayor received a vehicle and cash for having facilitated the transaction.
Tshifhango and Maluleke are the first officials at Thulamela to feel the heat even though the municipality managed to recoup their money.
The municipality is one of the 14 municipalities, including eight in Limpopo, that invested a total of R1.57 billion with the bank.
The Collins Chabane municipality has already fired Mayor Joyce Bila and Municipal Manager Tsakani Ngobeni for their roles in the R120 million investment with VBS.
Some people are questioning the timing of the decision as local government elections are only a few months away.
Thulamela DA PR councillor Thelma Marole said that they had raised the matter during a council meeting in as early as 2017.
“Something is fishy here,” she said.
“We suspect infighting between members of the same party.”
She said they insisted in 2017 that the organisation was dirty and they haven’t changed their opinion.
“We believe many officials benefitted from the VBS investments,” she said.
ANC Vhembe region spokesperson Tshifhiwa Dali confirmed they have recalled the mayor based on reports from the Treasury.
Mayor Tshifhango said he was not aware that he is no longer a mayor as he was not part of the council meeting that took the decision.
Thulamela municipality spokesperson Ndwamato Tshiila said the mayor was charged with contravening the code of conduct for councillors while Municipal Manager Hlengani was given seven days to give reasons why he should not be suspended.
