The North West Legislature is calling for the arrests of those who were involved in the non-existent call centre in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality, based in Vryburg, North West.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on the Premier, Finance, Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Aaron Motswana said while they urge the Acting Premier Nono Maloyi to take action, they also plan to engage law enforcement agencies like the Special Investigative Unit and the Presidency to issue a proclamation concerning both the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipalities.

‘The only sensible thing to do is to arrest those involved’

He said he learned the news with awe through different media outlets, accusing the municipality of procuring a non-existent call centre valued at R38 million. It is understood the municipality created a duplicate call centre with public funds that were meant for service delivery. What the committee found startling is some councillors voted for this item in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and Municipal Systems Act as amended.

‘The municipal manager attempted to justify this unlawful action’

Motswana said they have found a distressing history of Jonas, including a Labour Court ruling against him during his tenure at Maquassi Hills Municipality, involving irregular and fraudulent payments. 

“His questionable track record in Mamusa and Tswaing local municipalities further raises concerns. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he fails to recognise any wrongdoing in the payment for a non-existent shack call centre.”

OFM News/Tshehla Koteli Morné