Councillors block audit, cite cost
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 8, 2025 15:54
The motion, tabled during a full council meeting on Wednesday, was proposed by former council chairperson and current Lenganeng ward councillor, Collen Mochotlhi.
Presenting the motion, Mochotlhi urged fellow councillors to support an independent forensic audit of the council’s finances and operations from 2014 to present. He cited serious concerns over irregularities, some of which he said occurred before his term as chairperson began in 2019, and during his tenure. “I am bringing this motion not to settle scores, but to prevent future fraud and promote accountability,” he said. “There are worrying irregularities involving council staff and politicians. Some tenders were awarded without due process, particularly during the COVID-19 period, amounting to about P1.9 million,” he added. Mochotlhi, stated that the misuse of open spaces without the consent of councillors is just one example of questionable decisions taken without transparency. He claimed that some council officers hide behind the names of politicians to allegedly engage in unethical conduct, effectively shielding themselves from scrutiny. He also criticised the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), accusing it of sitting on several reports without initiating investigations. “These matters have been brought to DCEC’s attention, but nothing is being done. It’s frustrating,” he alleged. Mochotlhi further requested that even the projects and tenders awarded during his own leadership be scrutinised. “If everything was done procedurally, there’s nothing to fear. But let’s be transparent. Let’s audit everything,” he insisted.
The motion received support from councillor Mothusi Seakgosing of Old Kgosing ward, who emphasised that the council could not afford to appear indifferent to corruption. “If we are serious about good governance and fighting corruption, then we must treat this matter as urgent,” Seakgosing said. “This motion may help us recover some of the resources that were lost.” He praised government for its stated commitment to fighting corruption, arguing that councillors should do their part as local leaders. However, opposition to the motion was swift. Nominated Councillor, Kedibobye Batlang argued that the council could not afford the cost of hiring auditors when the same firm was already engaged by central government to audit all departments. “We simply don’t have the budget for that. The auditors have made their contacts publicly available. Councillor Mochotlhi is free to report any concerns directly to them,” Batlang said.
In the end, the motion failed to garner enough support. Six councillors voted in favour, while nine opposed it. Despite the defeat, Mochotlhi said he remains committed to transparency and may still raise the matter through other legal or administrative channels. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has 13 councillors, Botswana Democratic Party, one councillor while the Botswana Congress Party also has one.