Kholofelo Morodi has been removed as mayoral committee member for corporate and shared services in the Tshwane metro. (Photo: ActionSA)
Kholofelo Morodi has now been officially removed as the Tshwane metro mayoral committee member for corporate and shared services after she was implicated by the Madlanga commission of inquiry into alleged tender manipulation.
It is alleged that Morodi handed over internal tender documents to Sgt. Fannie Nkosi, alleged right hand of Lt. Gen. Shadrack Sibiya (suspended deputy national police commissioner), sent.
Dr. Nasiphi Moya, the mayor of Tshwane, says she carefully considered Morodi’s written representations after Morodi provided them on Wednesday evening.
In the meantime, Moya has also checked all the information at her disposal regarding the allegations, including all relevant notes and communications submitted to the Madlanga Commission.
“I am not satisfied that the concerns that have been raised have been adequately dealt with,” Moya explained on Friday.
Nasibi Spirit (Photo: Nasibi Spirit/X)
“The material before me reflects a pattern of involvement and behavior over a long period of time, including an inappropriate relationship between Councilor Morodi and Sergeant Nkosi, which raises serious concerns regarding the handling of information and the adherence to the standards expected of members of the executive.”
Moya says this decision was taken in terms of section 60 of the Act on Local Government: Municipal Structures, which gives the executive mayor the power to appoint members of the mayoral committee and determine their continued participation in the performance of their responsibilities.
“The mayoral committee must at all times command public trust and demonstrate the highest standards of ethical leadership and accountability. Where uncertainty exists that may affect the integrity or effectiveness of the executive, it is necessary to act firmly in the interest of the institution.”
However, Moya made it clear on Friday that her decision was not a finding of wrongdoing. “It also implies no presumption of guilt.
“This is a measure that is introduced to protect the integrity of the institution and ensure that all processes, including those arising from the commission, proceed in a manner that is fair, legal and free from interference.”
Hope Morodi (Photo: Hope Morodi/X)
Hannes Coetzee, mayoral committee member for community safety of ActionSA, will for the time being also continue to act as mayoral committee member for corporate and shared services to ensure continuity in the functioning of this portfolio until a replacement for Morodi is appointed.
ActionSA reconsiders Morodi’s membership
ActionSA welcomes Moya’s decision to suspend Morodi.
The party’s provincial executive committee will reconsider Morodi’s membership at a meeting on Friday evening.
“This kind of action, from our mayor in the City of Tshwane and our party structures within a single week, shows that ActionSA is committed to fighting corruption and misconduct through its actions, and not just its words,” believes Michael Beaumont, chairman of ActionSA.
“ActionSA apologizes unconditionally to the residents of Tshwane for what, in hindsight, was an error of judgement, even though there was no way of being aware of Morodi’s intentions at the time. Ultimately, any organization can only be judged by how it responds to evidence of wrongdoing and it is clear from our immediate actions that ActionSA has set the standard in this regard.”
Michael Beaumont (Photo: Tania Heyns/Maroela Media)
But what about Modise?
Meanwhile, the DA asked again why Moya would act against her colleague, but not against Eugene Modise, her deputy mayor and mayoral committee member for finance.
“It is telling that Mayor Moya does not respond to her deputy, because in reality she is the deputy. A mayor in name only,” says Cilliers Brink, the DA’s mayoral candidate.
“To quote the executive mayor on Morodi’s removal: ‘The mayoral committee must at all times command public trust and demonstrate the highest standards of ethical leadership and accountability’.
“If this is a position she really maintains, Bonzo (Modise) should have been removed months ago,” Brink believes.
“He is implicated in the benefit of security tenders. He is implicated in the benefit of their R777 million water tanker expenditure. And the same companies that he claims he does not benefit from are implicated in the Madlanga Commission.
“How much clearer does the picture have to be for the mayor?”
Cilliers Brink (Photo: Heléne Mocke/Maroela Media)
Brink says it is not that there hasn’t been an opportunity to remove Modise, as the DA brought a motion to remove him, one that her coalition government voted against.
He says it is also not that there is no evidence, “as the Madlanga commission has shown, and the DA’s criminal case against him now rests with the Falcons.
“The problem is that the mayor does not really believe in clean government, nor does she believe that the ‘highest standards of ethical leadership and accountability’ must be maintained,” Brink believes.
“Today it is clear that she only believes in staying in power, even if she has to be the deputy of a criminal.”
ActionSA kap na Brink
“ActionSA takes note of an opposition that is becoming more and more desperate,” Beaumont said on Friday, referring to the DA.
Beaumont says there is currently a “joint disinformation campaign” underway in an attempt to slander Moya’s leadership. “This while the relevant tenders were all awarded under the tenure of DA mayors, not Dr. Moya’s.
“However, like a dubious second-hand car salesman, Cilliers Brink simply slips away when confronted with facts, only to emerge with another false claim,” Beaumont slammed the DA’s mayoral candidate on Friday.
Michael Beaumont. (Photo: X)