Thamaga Cllr crashes council vehicle

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday September 23, 2016 17:30

It emerged during a full council meeting that councillor Palelo Motaosane had an accident in a council vehicle (Isuzu), which he was driving without authority. The Kweneng District Council chairperson, Jeffery Sibisibi confirmed the alleged misdemeanour, and that he has instructed officials to investigate.

It is alleged that the accident happened recently when the councillor attended the ceremony of the roving Independence torch in Thamaga. Details of what caused the accident are still sketchy, but it is said that the culprit was fortunate to come out unscathed from the crash.

Contacted for comment, Motaosane said that he could not discuss the matter without the authority of Sibisibi, but demanded to know Mmegi sources.

“Where did you get this? Maybe you should come here so that we meet. For now I can’t say anything, maybe if you can check me tomorrow,” he said.

Sibisibi confirmed that indeed the councillor was involved in an accident while driving a council vehicle. Sibisibi said that unfortunately the matter was not reported to council as he only learnt about it this week during the full council meeting.

“It is true. But it’s unfortunate because the council secretary and myself learnt about it during the full council meeting this week when it was raised by one of the councillors from the floor,” said Sibisibi.

The council chairperson said that he is yet to know the full details of the incident and how the said councillor got to drive the council vehicle as it is against the law. He stated that upon learning about the incident from the councillors, he engaged the council secretary.

“I spoke to the council secretary and we decided to set up a team to investigate the matter once the full council is over. It is against the law for councillors to drive council vehicles, so we don’t know how it happened,” Sibisibi said.

Asked what action would be taken against the councillor if found guilty, Sibisibi explained that the councillor would be surcharged to fix the council property while other forms of disciplinary actions would be considered as well as guided by the councillors’ code of conduct.

“What I can tell you is that by next week I will have answers to your questions. As at now, I have not even spoken to him about the incident. I will go to see the vehicle at Mogoditshane sub-council on Monday.

The findings of the investigation will guide us as to what action should we take against him.”

It is not the first time Motaosane has hogged the limelight for wrong reasons.

Prior to the BDP elective congress in Mmadinare in 2015, the councillor was suspended from the party following an alleged altercation with the Member of Parliament for Thamaga/Kumakwane, who is also the Minister of Transport and Communications, Tshenolo Mabeo.