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*ARTICLE EDITED |ANC SUSPENDS DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST KK DISTRICT MM AFTER INCURRING R2.8 MILLION IN EXPENSES

Jul 21, 2021

Last week, the ANC in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, with support from the EFF, suspended the disciplinary proceedings against the Municipal Manager (MM), Shirley Lesupi, who was facing several charges regarding her alleged involvement in the awarding of dubious tender contracts.
 
“The decision by the ANC and EFF undermines a resolution that was unanimously adopted by Council on 12 February 2021 to suspend the MM and institute disciplinary proceedings against her,” said Cllr Johannes Le Grange, the DA Caucus Leader for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality
 
Le Grange said that following Ms Lesupi’s suspension, Melvin Rampedi was appointed as the Acting MM. The suspended MM continues to receive her full salary which has cost the district at least R511 000 to date.
 
The district appointed a legal team to handle the disciplinary case, a team that included an attorney, an advocate and a forensic consultant. The legal team’s costs amount to more than R1.4 million.
 
“Instead of continuing with the disciplinary proceedings, the ANC has instead agreed to a settlement and will pay her six month’s salary which will cost an additional R814 000,” he said.
 
“The decision to suspend the disciplinary proceedings was made against the district’s legal team’s advice, who assured us that they had gathered enough evidence to ensure that the district wins the case.
 
“By stopping the disciplinary proceedings, the ANC is disregarding a Council resolution and failing to implement consequence management against alleged corruption.”
 
According to Le Grange is the ANC setting a dangerous precedence where instead of holding officials accountable they are rewarded with a golden handshake.
 
The Executive Mayor, Barei Elizabeth Mosiane-Segotso, failed to answer questions or show any leadership on this matter.
 
The settlement agreement, legal team fees and the money spent towards the Acting MM which amounts to R2.8 million, will be regarded as a fruitless and wasteful expenditure by the Auditor-General.
 
“This money could have been redirected towards service delivery such as water services and infrastructure improvement.”
 
– Media Release by Cllr Johannes Le Grange
DA Caucus Leader: Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality

 

*** The views of this press release expressed in this publication does NOT reflect the views or opinions of KLERKSDORP NEWS, it’s owners, partners, affiliates, advertisers or staff.***

The Klerksdorp News office was contacted by the Municipal Manager of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, Ms Shirley Lesupi, and her statement in regards to the DA media release is as follows:

“On 10 May 2021 the Municipal Manager, Ms Shirley Lesupi, received a notice to attend a disciplinary hearing for allegations of misconduct levelled against her by the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality. The allegations of misconduct by the municipality relate to, inter alia, failing to cooperate with the municipal council and failing to discipline staff members. None of these allegations of misconduct relate to any form of corruption on her part or involvement in so-called dubious tender awards.

Ms Lesupi has at no time signed any settlement agreement with the municipality and as such she was shocked to find out about a so-called settlement for the first time in the media.

Ms Lesupi maintains her innocence in relation to the allegations that have been levelled against her and has instructed her legal team to proceed with her disciplinary hearing.

Ms Lesupi has furthermore laid criminal charges of crimen injuria against the Councillor who had been responsible for publishing the article stating that she had received a golden handshake.”