North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi.
Image: Picture: NWPG
Premier Lazarus Mokgosi should be reprimanded and forfeit a month's salary and benefits, according to the North West Provincial Legislature's Ad Hoc Committee, for allegedly tampering with the recruitment report and procedure for the appointment of the municipal manager in Naledi Local Municipality.
On July 3, the committee concluded its investigation and approved the final report, which has been sent to the legislature's speaker, Dr. Sebonta Francinah Desbo Mohono, for official presentation before the house.
This was after mayor Clifton Groep alleged that Mokgosi improperly intervened in the municipality’s recruitment process.
Groep claimed that Mokgosi instructed a former municipal employee, Thabo Appolus, to alter an interview panel’s report to block the appointment of Modisenyane Segapo as municipal manager.
The alleged interference occurred in 2023 when Mokgosi served as the ANC chief whip in the provincial legislature.
During the public hearings, Mokgosi strongly denied the allegations and challenged the committee to prove how he could have altered the recruitment process.
However, the committee’s report found that Mokgosi has colluded and participated in the attempt to tamper with the recruitment report and process for the appointment of the municipal manager.
The committee stated that his conduct was egregious and in violation of the principles of honesty, integrity and dignity enshrined in the Legislature’s Code of Conduct for Members of Legislature, as well as a violation of the basic principle of high standard of professional ethics that the Constitution prescribes for public administration.
Mokgosi’s spokesperson Sello Tatai said the Premier will not be commenting on the matter as the committee is yet to conclude its work and present its final report to the North West Provincial Legislature for adoption.
The committee also stated it will not comment on the contents, findings and recommendations of the report as it has not been tabled before the house.
ANC North West spokesperson Thapelo Maruping also did not comment at the time of this publication.
The WhatsApp exchange between Appolus and Mokgosi formed a central component of the evidence examined by the committee. This message allegedly documented a fallout between the two after they successfully disrupted the appointment of Segapo as the municipal manager.
Testimonies detailed an alleged meeting at the farm of Appolus, reportedly attended by other regional political figures to fabricate or alter assessment reports to thwart Segapo's placement.
The hearings exposed an alleged plot to derail the Municipal Manager's hiring by faking a whistleblower complaint. Furthermore, evidence showed Premier Mokgosi supposedly held confidential records about the candidate, which were illegally removed from the COGTA MEC's office, to wrongfully question the candidate's qualifications.
During his testimony, Mokgosi clashed with the committee after he vehemently protested the committee’s process, slamming what they called “secret findings”, a lack of procedural fairness, and a failure to protect him from character attacks by other witnesses.
Mokgosi also criticised the guidelines’ structure, arguing they were designed to penalise individuals for attempted interference if actual tampering could not be proven.
The committee said this remark clearly demonstrates his lack of respect for the legislature's processes.
In addition, the report stated that his affidavit and dismissive attitude toward the committee show disrespect for the legislature and the committee itself.
The committee pointed out that Mokgosi’s written responses failed to address the preliminary conclusions regarding the meeting at Appolus farm.
The committee determined that his conduct during the proceedings broke the rules of the Powers and Privileges Act and weakened the legislature’s constitutional powers.
The investigation also found that his past behaviour as chief whip and member of provincial legislature fell short of expected standards, adding that his participation in the farm gathering, particularly given the reason for the gathering, was a severe breach of the code of conduct.
Furthermore, his refusal to cooperate with the committee, which amounts to contempt of the legislature, only worsens his misconduct.
Mokgosi was found in violation of three specific infractions for behaving inappropriately as a chief whip, damaging the dignity and credibility of their office and government, and failing to maintain proper integrity.
As a result, the committee recommended a written reprimand and a fine equivalent to one month's salary and allowances of the Mokgosi’s position at the time as the chief whip.