The former acting Municipal Manager at the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality in Rustenburg in the North West, Dr Johannes Mothupi, said he’s pleased that he managed to turnaround the situation at the Rustenburg-based municipality.
The municipality is regarded as the best performing municipality in the province, due to systems put in place by Mothupi run in the province, whose secondment to the municipality expired on 14th February 2025.
He was seconded to the municipality by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs Oageng Molapisi to turn things around at the municipality that was “on the brink of collapse.”
Mothopi who presented his close-out report for the tenure of his secondment to the special council sitting said that he is proud of his achievements since assuming the position.
The district is the only municipality in the province that achieved unqualified audit opinion in the past financial year.
I think there’s nothing untoward, I was sent by the North West provincial leadership to this Municipality, and as you can recall we spoke not so long ago about the audit outcome (unqualified audit opinion).
Secondly the institution is stabilised, we have appointed senior managers, because for the longest of time there were too many people acting in various portfolios, so permanent Directors have been appointed as we speak,” said Mothopi, who was speaking on YouFM Newshour.
Mothupi, roped in as “Mr Fix-It”, had his secondment extended in October and he believes that has helped in rescuing the municipality from corruption and ill-discipline.
He dismissed allegations that he failed to disclose to the council and the MEC that he is facing two pending fraud cases emanating from his previous assignment at the Ratlou Local Municipality where he was also seconded as the acting Municipal Manager.
“You are a journalist, surely you can do your own research.
I have never been charged with anything, there’s no such a thing.
I was seconded to Bojanala and what is important is that I did all I was assigned to do there, other things are not important to entertain for now what its important is that we focus on building our province.” Mothopi emphasised.
Looking back at his tenure at the municipality, Mothopi said he’s gratified.
“I am very proud of the situation as I leave it.
Bojanala’s state of affairs has changed, it (the district) is not the same, a lot has been done, and it is now able to support all its five local municipalities.
We should just leave corruption as it hampers us from rendering proper services to the communities,” explained Mothopi.
The municipality was notorious with a corruption scandal of R134 million that was mistakenly transferred to its coffers instead of the Rustenburg Local Municipality.
The money was embezzled.
