13 Oct 2020

 Kweneng District councillors have agreed to inform the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) about the P15 million alleged to be missing from the council coffers.   

The decision was reached following a report on the matter by the Kweneng District Council (KDC) finance committee chairperson, Mr Mathata Selaledi at the just ended full council session.

Councillors were of the view that the council should always ensure that there was prudent financial management and also emphasised on the need for an independent external audit to ensure thorough investigations on financial transaction conducted by Letlhakeng Sub-council.

Councillor for Mogoditshane North, Ms Francinah Jawe, said ‘it is important as council that we engage independent auditors than to rely on internal auditors that would fear to expose wrong doing by superiors without fear and prejudice.’

Meanwhile, Councillor for Gabane North East, Mr Ofentse Mareme, said as long as the internal controls within KDC remained weak and compromised, there could be financial loses.

Councillor Molatedi Selala of Thamaga West also viewed the issue with suspicion, adding that  there might had been internal influence in some transactions.

Letlhakeng Sub-district council chairperson, Mr Meshack Tshenyego expressed disappointment over the decision to invest such a significant amount of money without involving councillors, only to drag them into the matter when the deal had gone sour.

Mogoditshane Sub-council chairperson, Mr Dukes Mafhoko advised that the matter be accorded the sensitivity it deserved.

“Let us look into the matter properly and act accordingly before we could point accusing fingers to avoid litigation that could happen to our council,” he warned.

Councillors decided that since council had no capacity to investigate the matter of that magnitude, it would be appropriate to forward it to the DCEC to assist.

When presenting the report, Mr Selaledi highlighted that Letlhakeng Sub-district Council had previously made 10 investment transactions and had invested P15 million for a three months period between December 2019 and March 2020.

However, the KDC council chairperson, Mr Motlhophi Leo said, despite that councillors were not involved in such an investment, they should take full responsibility of what transpired. 

He said they also shared the view that the matter be channeled to DCEC for investigations.

“There was no bad intention in bringing the issue for discussion to the full council,” he said.

However, KDC secretary Mr Goleba Kgari said council acted appropriately in taking the matter with the relevant institution to act accordingly and provide guidance. ends