In a ruling made on Friday (14/3), the court reaffirmed ANC councillor Mazwi Moruri as the legitimate mayor of the municipality and Rasupang Moeketsi as the acting municipal manager, putting an end to the controversy sparked by rival appointments.

Earlier this month, ANC Cllr Molefe Morutse was sworn in as the new mayor during a council meeting held in Mahikeng. However, this appointment sparked significant dispute, as Moruri, who had been sworn in as mayor in January 2025, insisted that he still holds the position. 

Moruri challenged the legality of Morutse’s election, citing procedural irregularities and questioning the legitimacy of the meeting that led to the appointment of the new mayor.

Municipal spokesperson, Pius Batsile stated that the speaker of the council, Jairous Modisakeng, had summoned a properly constituted Special Council meeting on 7 March 2025, to resolve the issue. 

This meeting led to the decision to launch an urgent application in the North West High Court, challenging the legitimacy of the “unlawful” council meeting held on 5 March 2025, which had been called by the former Municipal Manager Olaotse Bojosinyane.

He said the court hearing, which took place this past Friday, resulted in a significant ruling. Justice Titus AJ, presiding over the case, issued an order restraining Bojosinyane from presenting himself as the municipal manager of Ditsobotla. Additionally, Morutse and Cllr Manana Bogatsu were interdicted and restrained from purporting to be the mayor and speaker, respectively.

“The court heard that Mr Olaotse Bojosinyane, Cllr Molefe Morutse, and Cllr Manana Bogatsu have been acting under false pretences, purporting to be a municipal manager, a mayor, and a speaker, respectively, and giving instructions under such purported authorities,” said Batsile in a statement.

Batsile criticised Bojosinyane for creating confusion and disrupting municipal operations. He noted that Bojosinyane had authored a dismissal letter to acting Municipal Manager Moeketsi, a letter that lacked legal basis and should be dismissed with contempt. 

According to Batsile, this false assertion of authority by Bojosinyane created parallel functions within the municipality and led to significant disruptions in the municipality’s administration, ultimately hampering service delivery.

He said the court’s ruling clarified the confusion orchestrated on 3 March 2025 by the former municipal manager, bringing a much-needed resolution to the chaos that had engulfed the municipality. Batsile urged all municipal employees to focus on their duties and refrain from engaging in political activities during official hours.

He also assured the public that the municipality’s operations would resume in full force starting on Monday (17/3).

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi