Latest news with #QuietKgatla
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
North West's Madibeng municipality appeals ruling to reinstate ‘suspended' official
Quiet Kgatla was put on precautionary suspension on allegations of financial misconduct. The Madibeng local municipality in the North West has lodged an appeal to the high court ruling that ordered the formerly suspended municipal manager Quiet Kgatla should return to work. Kgatla challenged his suspension and the High Court in Pretoria ruled that the suspension had expired and that Kgatla should return to duty. The court recently ruled Kgatla's precautionary suspension had lapsed in terms of the disciplinary regulations for senior managers. The court ruled that the municipality, along with the council speaker, the acting municipal manager and the mayor, must immediately allow Kgatla to resume his duties as a municipal manager. ALSO READ: Nepotism claim haunts Madibeng mayor Kgatla was put on precautionary suspension on allegations of financial misconduct after he appointed a contractor to undertake a housing building project without following the procedures this year. The court restrained the council from continuing with disciplinary proceedings on 27 June. The court also ordered the matter should not be discussed at the council meeting on 24 June, and instructed that all four respondents to pay the costs of the application. Madibeng municipality appeal In appeal papers, the municipality's legal team said the judge who granted the interdict in Kgatla' favour erred in deciding an urgent application without having considered the question of urgency at all and without having allowed the parties to argue the question of urgency. They said the court erred in relying on an incorrect statement contained in the letter of 28 March, which made a reference to a suspension that occurred on 20 February. READ MORE: North West's Madibeng municipal manager faces 'serious misconduct' probe The objective facts were against this, making it not a reasonable conclusion for a court to make. The lawyers said the court erred in entertaining the urgent application on extreme curtailed time periods, which caused recorded prejudice to the municipality, the council speaker and acting municipal manager, who were the first to third respondents respectively. 'There was no time to properly prepare and counsel for the respondents was not allowed sufficient time to argue the case. This caused procedural injustice and prejudice,' the lawyers said. Procurement irregularities Early this year, Kgatla was accused of irregularly appointing a contractor for a R11 million electrification of Damonsville in Brits. It's alleged that Kgatla appointed the supplier as an emergency measure without following the tender processes, including obtaining the mayor's permission before doing so. At the time Kgatla denied any wrongdoing, saying the whistle-blower had insufficient information and documentary proof. He said he had to act in an emergency to appoint a new contractor after Damonsville residents embarked on a violent protest on 29 January, demanding the promised electrification. NOW READ: Public protector launches probe into Madibeng mayor's office over crashed municipal bakkie
The Citizen
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Court reinstatement of suspended Madibeng manager Quiet Kgatla
The High Court in Pretoria has ruled in favour of Quiet Kgatla, declaring his suspension invalid and ordering his immediate return to work. Suspended Madibeng municipality boss Quiet Kgatla has been granted a court interdict against his suspension by the council and will go back to work. The High Court in Pretoria ruled Kgatla's precautionary suspension had lapsed in terms of the disciplinary regulations for senior managers. The municipality, along with the speaker, acting municipal manager and the mayor, must immediately allow Kgatla to resume his duties as a manager. Kgatla's suspension Kgatla was suspended following allegations of financial misconduct after appointing a contractor for a housing project without following due process. The ANC Bojanala regional executive committee (REC) ordered disciplinary action be taken against Kgatla. But some councillors twice did not attend council meetings where his fate was to be decided, forcing them to collapse due to a lack of quorum. The ANC North West executive committee, along with ANC national executive committee deployees Faith Muthambi, Mdu Manana and Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, endorsed the REC decision. ALSO READ: Public protector launches probe into Madibeng mayor's office over crashed municipal bakkie Kgatla then sought an urgent interdict. The court restrained the council from pursuing or continuing with disciplinary proceedings against the manager, scheduled for today. Irregular appointment Kgatla was accused of irregularly appointing a contractor for a R11 million electrification of Damonsville in Brits in the Madibeng municipality. It is alleged that Kgatla appointed the supplier as an emergency measure, without following the tender process. The ANC Bojanala recommended that Kgatla be placed on precautionary suspension with full salary pending the outcome of an independent investigation into misconduct allegations against him. The ANC provincial leadership endorsed this, but the council, led by mayor Douglas Maimane and speaker Ditshego Mbezi, refused to implement the decision. Kgatla denies allegations At the time, Kgatla denied any wrongdoing, saying the allegations levelled at him were baseless as the whistle-blower had insufficient information and documentary proof. He said he had to act to appoint a new contractor, after Damonsville residents embarked on a violent protest on 29 January, demanding the electrification promised by the municipality. NOW READ: ANC reduces Bojanala ex-mayor's suspension after appeal
