THE Chief Whip of Council in the Matlosana local municipality has been removed from his post by his party the ANC following the Sunday Independent probe which revealed how Khaya Ndincede misused the municipal funds for his personal use.
On May 12, the publication’s investigation revealed that Ndincede, aided by the municipality’s Chief Financial Officer Mercy Phetla, abused his powers and used a municipal vehicle and credit card for personal use at the expense of taxpayers.
In the Municipal fleet records, which Sunday Independent had seen, and a letter written by Fleet Maintenance Unit superintendent Raymond Holele to his superiors, it has been revealed that the Phetla instructed that Ndincede be provided with a Toyota Fortuner and a credit card belonging to the municipality.
Holele’s letter, dated November 15, detailed the matter explaining that at the instruction of the CFO, he was told to prepare the vehicle and deliver it to her office the following day of August 24, last year.
“It was delivered to the Chief Whip by an officer from the Speaker’s office called Itumeleng Payi with kilometres 201 553.
“A few hours later in the afternoon of the same day, Itumeleng and the Chief Whip arrived at the garage to request the petrol card and I requested them to give the ID copy of whoever will be using it. Copy of Chief Whip’s was submitted to me and I requested him to sign for it,” read the letter.
Two months later after Ndincede had had the municipal credit card and the vehicle, Holele stated that Ndincede sent him pictures of a damaged vehicle and the location of where Holele would find the vehicle.
At the time, Holele indicated that he only managed to recover the vehicle but the credit card was not recovered from Ndincede.
Both Ndincede and Phetla did not respond to questions from the publication.
The municipal fleet records seen by the Sunday Independent revealed that both the credit card and the vehicle were frequently used in the Eastern Cape and Free State provinces outside of Matlosana which is located in the North West.
Last week, the ANC North West convened its ordinary Provincial Executive Committee where it resolved to redeploy Ndincede and a few other leaders in the province.
“The Assessment was also concerned about the functionality of our Political caucuses in Municipalities. On that score, the ANC resolved to re-deploy the Chief Whip of Matlosana Local Municipality Cde Khaya Ndincede, the Chief whip of Naledi Local Municipality Cde Letshwene Ramothibedi, The Chief Whip of Kgetleng Local Municipality Cde. Amogelang Selaledi and the replacement of the Chief Whip of Rustenburg LM Cde Louisa Mabe.
“The ANC reiterates its commitment to make sure that North West Municipalities provide services to our people without fail. The leadership of the ANC will continue to supervise these municipalities,” read the statement of the ANC PEC.
Ndincede confirmed the statement to the publication but disputed that he was removed.
“The formal communication is not yet done by the PEC. I would advise that you speak with the author of the statement,” he said.
The ANC North West spokesperson Tumelo Maruping confirmed Ncincede had been demoted from his powerful post.
“Indeed, following a thorough assessment trail on all Municipalities of North West by the ANC, Cde Ndicende will be redeployed and replaced by another Cde of the ANC.
“The ANC is to finalise the replacement process in due course. Cde Khaya remains a Councillor, the changes have been effected on the chief position only,” Maruping replied.
Matlosana has become one of the notorious areas of concern following serious allegations of corruption by officials, political heads, and service providers who, among other things, have been accused of fraud and bribery.
Two weeks ago, the police arrested Phetla, the service provider Tiisetso Sebetlela, and the municipality’s acting store buyer and controller Mamatebisi Josephine Sekhejane, for R2.9 million of “ghost” electrical equipment that was never delivered.
The trio have appeared in court on a charge of fraud and were granted bail. Phetla was granted R35 000, Sekhejane R5 000, and Sebetlele was granted R20 000.
According to the municipal records, Phetla was the mastermind behind the alleged fraudulent transaction.
This added to more problems faced by Phetla as she was already out on R35000 bail in another corruption case.
On January 17, 2023, Phetla and two other employees of a service provider, GMHM Construction and Projects, Matshepiso Mothelesane, 39, and the wife of the GMHM boss Nomthandazo Mokasule, 49.
The trio were released on R35 000 bail each and the case is still pending.
On April 14, the publication revealed that Phetla and the now-axed Mayor James Tsolela were in a bitter dispute where the two ex-allies, in leaked WhatsApp messages, promised to “deal” with each other if the information about the funds received from GMHM construction and projects - was to find its way to the public.
In the WhatsApp chats, it appears that Phetla was the mastermind behind the solicitation of funds from service providers who paid directly to Tsolela’s personal bank account.
At the time Tsolela said that the funds were meant for his political party’s activities.