Centlec spokesperson, Lele Mamatu, confirms Stella Molefe’s successor is yet to be formally appointed. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse previously reported that two weeks prior to her contract expiring, Molefe submitted a damning report to the previous board probing alleged irregular promotions and appointments at the Mangaung Metro’s power utility.

The report, dated end-June 2020, outlines the investigation into the alleged irregular promotions which began in 2015. The Mangaung Metro’s rapid progression policy lies at the centre of the promotions debacle. It is alleged that a fraudulent version of the policy was used to motivate the promotions.  According to the report, only two of the five officials embroiled in the matter were charged and faced disciplinary proceedings thus far. One of them, a senior official in HR, was accused of being complicit in the irregular appointments, by not bringing the tampered version of the progression policy to the attention of her seniors in Corporate Services.

The aforementioned senior official challenged the findings made against her in labour court and managed to broker a deal with Centlec. Whilst rumours on the ground allege the deal runs into millions, Mamatu declined to comment on this when asked by the OFM News team earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, as of November, the disgraced former chairperson of the South African Airways (SAA) board, Dudu Myeni, no longer holds a directorship on the Centlec board. 

Mamatu says the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipal Council quietly appointed a new board on 28 October 2020 as the previous board’s term came to an end this year. The incumbent board’s three-year tenure kicked off on 1 November. The former head of the Free State Human Settlements Department, Nthimotse Mokhesi, who is now an accused in the controversial asbestos audit criminal case, is also no longer the Chairperson of the Mangaung Metro utility’s board. Mokhesi’s role as the Chairman has been taken over by Kenosi Moroka. Moroka and Chose Choeu both previously occupied seats on the board and have survived the change. The other newly appointed Centlec board members are: Themba Ngubeni, Yolisa Skwintshi, Relebohile Tsiki, and Tebogo Manye.

Myeni, who recently drew controversy for revealing the name of a key witness known as "Mr X” at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, was declared a delinquent director for life by the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria in May 2020. Judge Ronel Tolmay found Myeni to be unfit to hold any directorships in any entity for the rest of her life, implying the need for her to vacate the several positions she occupied at that stage – including at Centlec.

Tolmay did offer Myeni a chance at redemption, adding that she can apply in three years from the date of the court order to have the declaration of delinquency suspended. She would, however, have to show that she has been rehabilitated. The former SAA chairwoman is in the process of lodging her appeal against Tolmay’s judgment.

OFM News