Acting Northern Cape Premier Bentley Vass has instructed Sol Plaatje Municipality Mayor Barbara Bartlett to convene an urgent council meeting within two days to decide the fate of Municipal Manager Thapelo Matlala. This directive follows a day of chaotic scenes where leaders of civic organizations stormed the council chambers, demanding Matlala’s immediate suspension over allegations of corruption and maladministration.
The protest, which saw community leaders camped inside the municipality, was the culmination of growing anger over the handling of the municipal manager. The groups accuse Matlala of a range of misconduct, including an alleged unprocedural appointment, interference in supply chain processes, cronyism, and corruption. These allegations were recently detailed in a damning report published by a weekly newspaper.
On Sunday, several civic organizations escalated the matter by opening a criminal case against Matlala at a local police station. A central allegation involves a local businessman who reportedly claimed to have had a hand in influencing Matlala’s appointment and that the two had previously shared a business interest, which Matlala allegedly did not disclose.
Tumelo Mosikare, a representative of the Sol Plaatje Community Forum, expressed deep frustration with Mayor Bartlett’s leadership, accusing her of a “lack of decisive leadership” and “dragging her feet” in placing Matlala on suspension pending an investigation.
“We are but disappointed that we did not get what we wanted,” Mosikare stated after meetings with the executive. He confirmed that council leadership promised a “positive answer” at the upcoming meeting on Thursday.
Community leaders issued a stark warning, threatening a full-scale shutdown of Kimberley if the council’s decision is not favorable. They explicitly referenced the widespread electricity protests of 2018, suggesting a repeat of such action is imminent.
“The message is clear… If council does not take the decision that the community is saying, we will see a repeat of 2018,” Mosikare said.
In response to the pressure, Mayor Bartlett has appealed for patience as the council determines a way forward. While a meeting was initially planned for the end of September, the seriousness of the allegations prompted the expedited timeline on the advice of the acting premier.
Further details emerged regarding the scope of the investigations into Matlala. According to Mosikare, the municipal manager is already the subject of multiple cases with the Hawks serious crime unit and the Public Protector. He challenged the mayor’s characterization of the claims as mere “allegations,” insisting they are formal, active cases.
A specific accusation of interference in these investigations was also leveled against Matlala. Mosikare claimed that municipal workers, operating “under fear,” have provided information that the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) refused a Hawks request for documents under instruction from Matlala, necessitating a subpoena. While citing WhatsApp messages as evidence of this interference, Mosikare acknowledged the evidence is currently in the hands of the community leaders and would be passed to the police.
The community leaders have clarified that their demand is solely for the suspension of the municipal manager, not the mayor. They argue that suspension is a necessary first step to allow law enforcement to conduct its investigations without interference.
All attention now turns to the special council meeting scheduled for Thursday, where the future of the municipal manager will be decided, and the potential for further social unrest in Kimberley hangs in the balance.