By Johnathan Paoli
The North West Provincial Legislature has established an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate allegations of improper conduct against Premier Lazarus Mokgosi following claims that he interfered in the appointment of a senior municipal official.
The committee’s chairperson, Nathan Oliphant, said Mokgosi will be called to appear before the committee in the coming weeks.
“It is alleged that the Premier of the North West province may have had some dealings or a hand in the recruitment processes of the municipal manager of Naledi Local Municipality, and that is being regarded as impropriety. For now, we are treating it as we would any case involving a member of the legislature who might have acted improperly,” Oliphant said.
The move marks a significant escalation in tensions within the province’s political landscape, as opposition parties warn against being drawn into the ANC’s internal battles while insisting that the process must remain transparent and impartial.
The allegations originated from Naledi Local Municipality mayor John Groep, who told Parliament’s Joint Portfolio Committees during an oversight visit last month that Premier Mokgosi had allegedly instructed a former municipal employee to alter a report relating to the appointment of municipal manager, Modisenyane Segapo.
According to Groep, Mokgosi, accompanied by three ANC members, met the former employee, Thabo Apolus, on his farm and allegedly pressured him to revise official documentation regarding the recruitment process, a claim that, if proven true, could constitute serious interference in local government administration.
The Ad Hoc Committee, established by a formal resolution of the provincial legislature this week, comprises four members from the ANC, one from the Democratic Alliance (DA), and one from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) legislator Lerato Tsholo will represent minority parties.
The legislature has instructed the committee to conduct a thorough investigation and report back by 31 November 2025.
The establishment of the committee has received broad support across the political spectrum, though with notable caution.
EFF provincial legislator Matuma Dabampe said while his party supported accountability, it would remain vigilant against being manipulated in ANC power struggles.
“We are very much careful not to be used in political battles by political parties, especially the ruling party, where they want to deal with their own and use us,” Dabampe said.
DA representative Christiaan Steyl echoed that sentiment, stressing that the probe must be guided by fairness and evidence.
“We believe that any allegations should not be left unattended; witnesses should be called and provide the Ad Hoc Committee with all the necessary evidence,” he said.
Tsholo said her participation would focus solely on upholding public accountability.
“We are here about transparency and accountability. Whether it’s an ANC internal political fight, that’s got nothing to do with us,” she said.
In a statement released after the legislature’s decision, the DA welcomed the establishment of the Ad Hoc Committee, calling it “a sign of maturity and accountability consistent with the rule of law and democratic principles”.
Steyl, who will represent the DA on the committee, added that the investigation should serve as an opportunity to examine deeper governance failures in the province.
“North West municipalities continue to rank among the worst-performing in the country, and this process presents an opportunity to uncover whether there is underlying political interference affecting governance, appointments, and service delivery at the local level,” he said.
The allegations against Mokgosi come amid growing concern over governance and corruption in the North West, where multiple municipalities have been placed under administration in recent years due to financial mismanagement and political infighting.
The Ad Hoc Committee will now begin collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, with Mokgosi expected to be summoned to provide his version of events.
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