Mahikeng municipal boss spends R96 000 a month on imaginary toilet

Mahikeng municipal boss, Thabo Mokwena, is being asked to account for a toilet that’s costing the already tormented North West province R96 000 a month.

A Mahikeng local municipal manager finds himself in hot water over the rental agreement for a toilet which does not exist. The toilet in question was supposed to stand in for non-operational public facilities at the Mahikeng taxi rank.

According to Sowetan, Mokwena paid R67 2000 without a service level agreement with a service provider. Seven months later at the exorbitant rental rate, there’s still no sign of the ablution facilities.

This is not the first time Mokwena finds himself on the receiving end of vicious criticism. Recently the municipal boss was accused of investing R83-million in the controversial VBS Bank without following the appropriate procedures.

The investment in VBS followed an over-payment of R60-million from a National Treasury. Since then Mokwena has been having sleepless nights, complaining of threats and intimidation from local ward counsellors.

Thabo Mokwena writes to the Mahikeng mayor about dangerous working conditions

Mokwena complained to Mahikeng mayor, Betty Diakanyo on 12 June. He bemoaned the fact that he was labelled corrupt and incompetent by members of the public and local ward councillors.

Speaker Bafana Nebe said he was aware of the allegations against Mokwena, and that the council is not taking the matter lightly, saying:

“We know about those allegations; they are serious. We will, however, talk more on steps to be taken after the council meeting.”

All this comes at a time when the North West province is buckling under the financial strain left by Supra Mahumapelo’s alleged corrupt dealings and mal-governance. Funds meant for social development went missing under the ex-premier’s tenure.

Mokwena is set to face the music on Tuesday when he appears before the council tasked with rooting out corruption and financial irregularities.