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In a power play between the ANC and its coalition allies in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, the Municipal Public Accounts Committees (MPAC) witnessed the appointment of Tumelo Thulo as its new chairperson during a special council meeting on 9 November 2023. This move transpired following the resignation of Chico Mkhwanazi from the EFF, who stepped down just before facing a motion of no confidence tabled by the ACM.

The ACM's motion materialised mere weeks after the Democratic Alliance's decision to withdraw its motion, a choice informed by an existing agreement between the ACM and the ANC. With the ACM now aligned with the ANC-led coalition, Thulo's election appears to be a reciprocal gesture, serving the interests of the ANC. The community of MaP faces the potential fallout of inadequate leadership within the MPAC, risking mismanagement of public funds and compromised accountability.

In an unsettling déjà vu for Maluti-a-Phofung, ACM councillor Thulo's motion to oust the MPAC chairperson revealed numerous inconsistencies. The newly appointed chairperson exhibits a lack of familiarity with the municipality's Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless, and Wasteful expenditures, wrongly citing R1.3 billion instead of the actual R7 billion. Additionally, he confuses the MPAC with a Section 32 committee, highlighting a concerning lack of comprehension about his responsibilities.

We have consistently advocated for the effective and transparent functioning of MPAC, engaging with various stakeholders locally and provincially. The recent developments in the special council meeting underscore that both the ANC-led coalition and its predecessor, the MAP16-led coalition, seem more focused on shielding themselves from allegations of corruption than prioritising the welfare of the people of Maluti-a-Phofung.

We reaffirm our commitment to accountability by pledging to scrutinise and hold the newly appointed MPAC chairperson accountable. We will actively collaborate with concerned residents to ensure that transparency and efficiency prevail in the crucial oversight role of MPAC.

Issued by Moshe Lefuma - DA Chief Whip Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality