The decision by the North West Provincial Legislature to establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate allegations of interference in the appointment of the Municipal Manager at Naledi Local Municipality is a moment of reckoning for individuals implicated and for the broader system of local governance.
At the centre of the controversy are claims that Premier Lazarus Mokgosi, then serving as ANC Chief Whip and Chairperson of the ANC Deployment Committee, may have influenced the 2023 appointment process. Whether those allegations are ultimately proven or not, the very existence of such claims underscores a deeper concern: public confidence in municipal appointments has been shaken.
Now, as Naledi Local Municipality has re-advertised the post of Municipal Manager and other senior management positions, it faces a critical test. This is not simply about filling vacancies. It is about restoring trust.
Municipalities are the closest sphere of government to the people. They are responsible for water, sanitation, roads, refuse removal and local economic development. When questions arise about how senior officials are appointed, residents are justified in asking whether merit, competence and integrity are truly guiding principles or whether political considerations are pulling the strings.
Transparency is not optional. It is a constitutional imperative.
The municipality should therefore take proactive steps to ensure the recruitment process is beyond reproach. This includes: Publicly outlining the criteria and competency requirements for each advertised post. Ensuring independent and suitably qualified panel members communicating clearly about timelines and stages of the process Making the final recommendations and reasons accessible within the bounds of the law.
The Ad-Hoc Committee’s investigation will proceed in its own course. But Naledi Local Municipality does not have to wait for findings to demonstrate its commitment to clean governance. By conducting a transparent, fair and professional recruitment process, it can send a powerful message that municipal administration is not a political playground, but a public trust.
Residents deserve to know what is happening inside their municipality. They deserve confidence that senior appointments are made in the best interests of service delivery not factional interests. This is an opportunity for Naledi to turn the page. The municipality must seize it.
