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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng is disappointed to learn that the failing Lesedi Local Municipality Mayor, Lerato Maloka has been chosen as the next Mayor of the Sedibeng District Municipality by the ANC in Gauteng.

The news did not come as a surprise as the ANC has a reputation of protecting its cadres by deploying them to other government posts when they realise that they have messed up in their previous position.

Sedibeng has been without a Mayor since January, following the passing of the former Mayor, Busisiwe Modisakeng.

Lerato Maloka, the Lesedi Mayor is being moved from the municipality as way of protecting her from facing accountability, following the R7 billion Aerodrome Project tender which was awarded without following proper procurement processes and ignoring Treasury regulations.

Maloka must account for this R7 billion project that will not benefit Lesedi residents but will only enrich individuals who are part of the ANC patronage network. The project was advertised by the municipality despite it having already been handed over to the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA).

Maloka is not fit to become the new mayor of Sedibeng, as she has failed in delivering adequate service delivery in her previous role.

Sedibeng is on the verge of collapse due to corruption and maladministration. There is a damning investigative reports into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption, and serious malpractice that has occurred, and is still ongoing in the municipality, which was released by Advocate William Mokhare last year.

According to the report, no financial systems of control have been put in place by the municipality, such as no supply chain management policy, while serious cases of irregular expenditure, supply chain mismanagement, procurement deviations, as well as corruption have materialised.

Instead of appointing a new mayor, the ANC Provincial Government must place Sedibeng under administration with immediate effect as the new mayor will run this municipality to the drain. The report recommended that Sedibeng must be placed under administration, therefore begging the question as to why the ANC is ignoring the recommendations. This clearly show that the governing party wishes to loot all that remains in the Sedibeng coffers before the local government elections.

The DA calls on the Gauteng ANC to reconsider their decision to appoint Maloka as the new mayor of Sedibeng and instead, put the people’s interest first before the party, by placing the municipality under administration.

Issued by The DA