Thabazimbi faces fresh claims of corruption and governance failures

By Thebe Mabanga

The embattled Thabazimbi Local Municipality is facing fresh allegations of corruption and governance failures, with Municipal Manager Gopolang Clement Letsoalo accused of withholding critical reports from the mayor and the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).

Since taking office in April last year, Letsoalo is said to have effected suspensions and dismissals that at one point cost the council R1.2 million per month, according to MPAC chair Freek Erasmus, a Freedom Front councillor.

A consultant who has done work for the municipality and remains eligible to do so, and who did not want to be named or have his specialised role identified, told Inside Metros: “The Municipal Manager and some senior administration officials have captured the council with the intent to loot it.”

The latest controversy centres on the removal of mayor Tumisang Pilane and Speaker Dingaan Sebata.

The two were elected in December 2024 and were ousted at a special council sitting held shortly before Human Rights Day in March.

The sitting was overseen by Letsoalo, while Pilane and Sebata were removed through a motion of no confidence brought by the Labour Party, which is led on an interim basis by unionist and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) founder Joseph Mathunjwa.

At that sitting, Andries Tshukudu of the ANC was elected mayor, while Daniel Mampeule of the Labour Party was elected speaker.

Sources and informants allege that Letsoalo orchestrated the outcome.

Approached for comment, Pilane declined to comment and referred all queries to the council.

“The Labour Party of South Africa (Labour Party) welcomes the election of its Councillor, Daniel Mampeule, as Speaker of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality,” the party said of Mamepuele’s election. 

“The Party views this development as a decisive step in stabilising a municipality that has suffered prolonged governance failure, political