20 Mar 2016

Councillor Thabo Komane of Ntshinoge ward in Mochudi, following advice from officials, withdrew a motion which wanted the council to resolve that all officers answering questions and making comments in the council should take an oath. 

Introducing the motion during the opening of the Kgatleng District Council session, Cllr Komane said he was prompted to come up the motion because officers often give council false information on issues that affect the public and the people they were representing.

He said he had observed a tendency where the council was not taken seriously hence they have suffered prejudice.

Cllr Komane said incidences of officers giving false information to council must be addressed without delay and that one of way of dealing with the problem was for officers to take an oath before giving information to the council so that they could be liable for prosecution if they had lied.

He said the Public Service Act No. 30 of 2008 and the Public Service Charter inform any public officers to uphold the law and be truthful and honest in their dealings with the public.

Cllr David Motlhatlhedi of Bophirima ward supported the motion and said he believed that the time had come for officers to account for their dishonesty.

He said it was an embarrassment for the council chairperson to give a speech only to discover later that the information he was given was not true.

Cllr Lerothodi Modipane of Boseja South together with Cllr Tona Mooketsi of Mosanta said they were not in anyway in dispute with public officers, but wanted to safeguard the truth, adding further that officers should always give honest information.

Earlier deputy council chairperson, Cllr Stephen Makhura had requested councillors to consider dealing with the issue through the executive so that due advice was considered, but the movers of the motion declined the advice.

Kgatleng District  commissioner, Mr Mompoloki Mochanang said he appreciated the concerns raised by councillors, but however advised that councillors should be aware that the public service was controlled by the Public Service Act.

He said whenever an officer gave false information as per the argument brought forward, there was need for  disciplinary measures to be taken, looking at the fact that issues raised had to be addressed as such.

Mr Mochanang further said there were instances where officers gave information and what they said fails due to unforeseen circumstances and in those cases diligence must be taken to consider the cause.

He made a commitment for the Mmathubudukwane service centre to be operational by April 1 and some departments including his would begin providing services from the centre.

The district commissioner said in his address to district development committee he had shared with departments about the importance of the service centre and some agreed to take their services there. Ends