FS COGTA head receives ‘chilling’ death threats from top Matjhabeng officials over corruption cases

Free State CoGTA head is living in fear after receiving chilling death threats, warning that he will be assassinated if he pursues with corruption cases at the cash-strapped Matjhabeng municipality.

Kasi Voice News understands that, since the municipality has been red-flagged with several corruption cases, there has been numerous attempts to go against all those who are probing corruption cases.

During the National Council of Province sitting, CoGTA head Mokete Duma, told MPs that he was warned to watch his back, as there are top officials in Matjhabeng who want to see him dead.

This comes after National CoGTA office delegated the provincial department to apply Section 106 – an investigation conducted when the Local Government MEC either instructs a municipal manager to provide information, or designates a third party to investigate maladministration, fraud, corruption or serious malpractices that may have occurred or are occurring in any given municipality.

Duma said death threat against him was part of a well-coordinated campaign to intimidate the office of MEC Mxolisi Dukwana in their fight against corruption, as people implicated in these corruption cases are desperate and worried that they will soon be arrested.

He said that together with his team they went to the Matjhabeng Local Municipality to present their findings.

“The next day, I received threatening calls, indicating that I am trying to ensure that people go to jail, and if that is the case, I must watch my back. I was advised to speak to the police,” said Duma.

“Fortunately, after our engagement with the select committee, we had engagement with the Hawks, and there is progress as some of the matters are before the court,” he added.

Meanwhile, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke said her team based in the province, were welcomed with a backslash from various municipalities in the province, where municipalities including Matjhabeng refused to cooperate with the office of AG.

“In the Free State, the AG’s office has had to seek help from relevant councils and provincial leadership over the seven non-submissions, but their response was ineffective,” said Maluleke who was delivering the audit outcomes of municipalities for the 2020-2021 financial year.

Briefing media, Maluleke said these municipalities are on a deteriorating state, and they are on the brink of collapse.

“The Free State continues to deteriorate in the face of inaction by the political and admin leadership.

“None of the municipalities in the Free State had a clean audit, this is an issue that has persisted over the last five years,” she said.