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The reappointment of Brigadier Israel Kgamanyane as the Head of Department (HOD) for Public Safety and Security in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) reeks of cadre deployment. Kgamanyane served as the HOD of the Mangaung Metro Police Service (MPS) from 2017 to 2022 and during his term he was charged with the establishment of the Metro Police. This establishment was surrounded by several controversies and to date the MMM is without a Metro Police which cost the Metro more than R250 million.

On 14 October 2021, the then-acting City Manager (ACM), Sello More, received a letter from the Deputy Director General (DPG) of Intergovernmental Relations, Malijeng Ngqaleni, informing the ACM that the National Treasury does not support the establishment of the Metro Police Service and believed it not to be in support of the implementation of the Mandatory Financial Recovery Plan.

Treasury directed the ACM to:

• institute disciplinary procedures against everyone involved in this process including members of the Mayoral Committee in terms of the Municipal Finance Management
• no payments nor any additions to the organisational establishments must be allowed under any circumstances.
• to supply the national treasury with all memorandums and reports that served at the council which were the basis for the decision to establish the metro police.
• the said documents also include the decision-making process of how the councillors of the metros voted on this item
• take the necessary steps to advise the council to rescind the ill-advised decision as soon as practically possible and timeously advise the National Treasury of the position of the Metro within 14 days.

The DA can confirm that the ACM never tabled a report to the council to rescind the decision.

National Treasury was also concerned with court cases filed against MMM concerning the establishment of the Metro Police. In 2022, it was reported that Kgamanyane appointed 144 officers without the approval of Sello More.

On 2 October 2021, the then Executive Mayor, Mxolisi Siyonzana, launched the Mangaung Metro Police Service, only to be suspended 4 days later after officers seized control of the Bram Fischer Building with Kgamanyane in charge. The then MEC of CoGTA, Mxolisi Dukwana reached an agreement with staff and SAMWU over the appointment of officers.

With the appointment of Sello More as the City Manager and the re-appointment of Kgamanyane, the DA will now write to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate maladministration with the establishment of the Mangaung Metro Police Service.

The MMM is still recovering from financial distress under section 139 of the Constitution and with crime on the rise, citizens dying on our roads, and municipal infrastructure stolen by syndicates, the DA feel strongly that we cannot reappoint HODs that put the MMM in financial distress.

The DA urge residents of Mangaung to register for the upcoming National Elections in 2024 and bring corruption to a halt to keep our city of roses safe.

Issued by Dirk Kotze - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality