SAMWU WELCOMES THE ARREST OF MADIBENG CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

July 25, 2024 adminPress

24 July 2024

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the North West province notes and welcomes the arrest of Morufa Moloto, the Chief Financial Officer of Madibeng Local Municipality. Moloto, who was appointed as Madibeng Acting Municipal Manager, along with her partner, was arrested by the Hawks for their involvement in a corruption case related to the procurement of laptops at the Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality in 2018.

While welcoming this arrest, SAMWU expresses outrage over the persistent recycling of leaders in municipalities, which has significantly exacerbated the culture of corruption and impunity. The fact that Moloto was appointed at Madibeng despite a dark cloud hanging over her head from her time as Chief Financial Officer of Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality is a glaring indication of the deep-rooted issues plaguing our municipal governance.

This arrest should serve as a stark reminder and a wake-up call to all municipalities that corruption and unethical behavior will no longer be tolerated. Moloto’s employment at Madibeng is symptomatic of a broader, systemic problem within our municipal structures. It highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of municipalities’ hiring practices to ensure that only individuals of the highest integrity are entrusted with the management of our municipalities.

As SAMWU, we believe that the fight against corruption must start with the elimination of the practice of recycling individuals facing corruption charges. Municipalities must break free from this revolving door that perpetuates misconduct and erodes public trust. The employment of individuals who have been charged with fraud and corruption not only undermines the principles of good governance but also betrays the trust of the communities they are supposed to serve.

Our municipalities are the bedrock of service delivery and local development. They should be sanctuaries of transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. It is important that we restore the integrity of our municipal institutions by ensuring rigorous vetting processes before making strategic appointments. The future of our communities depends on it.

SAMWU calls on all municipalities in the province to take a firm stand against corruption by adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of unethical behaviour. This includes a commitment to thorough background checks and the exclusion of individuals with a history of fraud and corruption from positions of power.

Issued by SAMWU North West Province
Vincent Diphoko
Provincial Secretary
083 580 8815

Papikie Mohale
National Media Officer
076 795 8670