The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the JB Marks Local Municipality rejects the application brought today by the criminally-accused Executive Mayor Khotso Khumalo and his two co-accused, the Director for Municipal Services and Local Economic Development, Cyril Hendry, and the caretaker for sports and recreation facilities, Mohau Shuping, to relax their bail conditions to the extent that they may again enter the municipal building and Council Chambers. The trio face charges of fraud and theft.

This is a desperate attempt to enjoy access to the municipal offices and the Council chambers to manage their patronage network affairs and influence Council decisions. The DA has previously been informed that the three accused are allegedly operating from the library adjacent the JB Marks municipal offices and we have reported this to the authorities.

It must be noted that the Motion of No Confidence the DA submitted in Mayor Khumalo is set to be heard by Council tomorrow. This application to relax bail conditions is clearly motivated by the need to attend Council proceedings in a bid to intimidate ANC Councillors who may opt to support the DA’s motion.

This cannot be allowed. Relaxing the bail conditions risks compromising further investigations through possible intimidation of witnesses and other municipal officials.

Interestingly, at today’s court proceedings, the court was packed with ANC cadres wearing “Hands Off Magashule” t-shirts. In support of the accused, the Municipal Manager, Lebo Ralekgetho, and other ANC Councillors and Officials were also present. This is the clearest indication yet of a compromised state capture cabal within JB Marks Municipality.

We appreciate the court’s decision to postpone hearing the application to ease the bail conditions to 11 December 2020 and we hope that the State will oppose the application.

Issued by DA