Acting FTLM MM still at the helm after more than a year
BURGERSFORT/APEL
The FTLM seems to be violating government laws related to acting appointments in senior municipal positions. It has emerged that the municipality’s acting accounting officer, Mavis Magoa has been acting as municipal manager (MM) since October 2024. This is more than a year, she has held the position.
This paper engaged several experts on municipal laws, almost all the aficionados indicated one point: “ Acting appointments are strictly limited to three months, extendable only once, by the MEC under exceptional circumstances.”
According to the experts, interviewed, “Council does not have the power to ‘approve or ratify’ acting roles. Council’s powers is limited to appointing an acting MM or senior manager for three months. If that three-months acting term expires, and the appointed person purports to act as MM, then council cannot extend, ratify or approve that purported acting .”
The big question remains, “Is there justification for the acting MM to remain in her position for more than a year.”?
Insiders within the municipality indicated that there are high chances that Magoa will remain at the helm till 2026.
“The year is almost over, and there was no advertisement for this post, surely Magoa will still be in charge in 2026.”
Employees alleged that there are several staff members in senior and lower positions that have been acting, “It’s more like Hollywood, with so many actors, ” they said.
This publication understands that, part of the reasons the MM position is not filled, can be the ongoing legal battles between suspended or fired MM, MJ Makgata and the FTLM.
Since Makgata’s suspension in October 2024, he and the FTLM have been entangled in legal battles – at the taxpayer’s expenses, the battles have allegedly divided the council and negatively affected service delivery in the FTLM.
Since the start of the cat and mouse legal battles, Makgata has reportedly won more than five legal battles against the FTLM.
The Sekhukhune Times engaged the municipality to solicit a comment on the vacant MM post, as well as the updates on the Makgata saga.
“The Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality acknowledges your enquiry. Please be advised that we are not in a position to comment on the status of the Municipal Manager matter at this stage, as it is sub judice and currently before the courts,” said the municipality’s communications officer Mahlako Komane.
