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.
