The Kimberley Prospector

Unresolved Issues of the Sol Plaatje Section 106 Report Remain Five Years Later

July 2023 will mark the 5-year anniversary of the Sol Plaatje Section 106 Report, which has yet to be resolved in its entirety. In March 2020, requests by opposition parties to discuss the outstanding report into irregularities at Sol Plaatje Municipality, as a matter of urgency, were left unheard in the Northern Cape Legislature.

In August 2021, the Sol Plaatje Municipality Chief Financial Officer, Lydia Mahloko, and Municipal Manager Goolam Akharwaray, who were both implicated, reached a settlement agreement regarding the Section 106 investigation report. According to the court order that was granted by Judge Lawrence Lever and Judge Cecile Williams, “the contents of the draft order will not be disclosed for any purpose save to state that the application has been withdrawn and no reliance may be placed on the report,” the DFA reported.

Although the application was withdrawn and no reliance may be placed on the report regarding one of the aspects of the report, it was just one of the many unresolved issues mentioned in the report. Some of these issues have been passed on to the Hawks for investigation, and the media and public should follow up on them.

Nelson Mandela precinct, the “cardboard” sign that cost millions

These unresolved issues include purchases for the mayoral house, allegations of impropriety relating to car rentals on the basis of one invitation by the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA) that was allegedly used multiple times for car rentals, accommodation and S&T claims, allegations of impropriety relating to the construction of the Nelson Mandela precinct in Galeshewe, Gensoft Technologies’ development of Indigenous management system, allegations of improper appointments of Mr. MM Satiogelo, Mr. SH Mallie, Mrs. ZI Mahloko, Mrs. KR Sabolecwe, Mr. Vanta, Mr. Mopharing and Mr. Montahlwa Sebolecwe, and allegations of impropriety relating to the SANRAL project.

It is essential that the Northern Cape Legislature and the media and public follow up on these unresolved issues as soon as possible so that the Sol Plaatje Section 106 Report can be fully resolved and the residents of Kimberley can have peace of mind.

This article was written by Jurno.

The full Sol Plaatje Municipality 106 Report

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