Graft-rap mayor back on leave

2005-10-20 17:47

Bloemfontein - The mayor of Mangaung, which includes Bloemfontein, went back on voluntary leave on Thursday while corruption charges were pending against him, said his office.

Mayor Pappie Mokoena "appointed" councillor Eva Moilwa as acting mayor of Mangaung, said mayoral spokesperson Lele Mamatu.

But in a different version of events, the African National Congress in the Free State said on Tuesday that Moilwa would continue to act as mayor until the Mangaung municipal council decided otherwise.

On Tuesday, the provincial ANC removed Mokoena from all his party posts, and from that of mayor. It was then argued whether the party had the authority to remove him from his mayoral post.

Mamatu said Mokoena decided to go back on voluntary leave after a meeting with ANC provincial leadership on Tuesday night.

He will be on leave until October 31.

Acting mayor is 'capable'

"In this time, the internal investigating committee will be able to finalise its report into allegations of corruption levelled against Mokoena and other senior officials," said Mamatu.

He said governance and service delivery in Mangaung would continue to run smoothly.

"Moilwa, who will be acting mayor in the time that Mokoena is away, is a member of the mayoral committee responsible for public safety in Mangaung and is capable of the job."

Mokoena, his wife, Granny, speaker Zongezile Zumane, city manager Mojalefa Matlole, chief operating officer Mzwandile Silwana and Mokoena's political adviser Jacob Thithi were arrested by the Scorpions in July.

They face various charges of corruption and fraud in regard to tenders worth millions. They are out on bail and are due to appear in Bloemfontein magistrate's court in April next year.

Mokoena returned unexpectedly to his office on October 10.

- SAPA