The African National Congress (ANC) whip in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, Khayalethu Ndicede, has confirmed to Mo-Media that his organisation is going to set the motion of no confidence against Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD) councillor and the Chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), Merriam Methi (49), on Tuesday.
This follows Methi's public arrest and that of her son Tshegofatso Mosiako (20) last Wednesday for alleged corruption. The duo were arrested by members of the Hawks wearing plain clothes in a sting operation after the duo accepted a R30 000 bribe.
When they realised they were trapped by the Hawks, Methi tried to run away from the scene, but a female Hawks member quickly grabbed her, as seen in a video released during their arrest, in possession of Mo-Media.
Ndicede said ANC members of the MPAC have written a letter to the Office of the Speaker, Stella Mondlane, asking for a Special Council meeting on Tuesday, August 29, to pass the motion.
"We saw the allegations through social media until they were confirmed to us by the Hawks. We are shocked by these allegations because we trusted her from the opposition party, as we can't be players and referees. With these allegations, the opposition has proved that they can't be trusted, and it's high time that ANC councillors claim back the position on Tuesday," he said.
It does not rain but pour for Methi as her organisation gave her a suspension letter on Tuesday.
The North West Chairperson of F4SD, Sechaba Sekgoto, confirmed to Mo-Media the suspension.
He confirmed by WhatsApp message: "Just received a suspension letter (of Methi) from the organisation, which I know it's procedural based on the F4SD constitution. I think it's better that way."
Sekgoto said they received the allegations with surprise and shock. He said that as an organisation, they want to distance themselves from such allegations or any other form of improper or illegal behaviour.
"Such allegations caught us by surprise because in May, the organisation had a workshop with all our councillors in the province to remind them of all their duties in different municipalities, and corruption was part of the agenda in that workshop.
"I can also assure our people that disciplinary actions are taken against the implicated councillor, even before her next court appearance in November," he said.
Methi and her son were arrested by the Hawk's Serious Corruption Investigation Team on Wednesday, August 23, in Klerksdorp, following an arranged entrapment to catch them in the act of committing an offence.
According to the Hawks, Methi met with the complainant, where she allegedly introduced herself as the Chairperson of MPAC in Matlosana Local Municipality. The complainant reportedly told her that he had trucks that could be utilised for refuse removal and for her to inform him when the municipality advertises tenders for him to bid, and she allegedly obliged.
Reports by the Hawks indicate that in March 2023, the suspect reportedly met with the complainant, where she told him that the municipality awarded his business partner a tender to collect refuse.
She was aware that he was also benefiting from the tender. The complainant was allegedly given an ultimatum to pay the suspect an amount of R50 000; failure to do so would result in the contract being cancelled with no chance of renewal.
Members of the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Team received information about the payment arrangement that the suspect had reached with the complainant. The two were arrested soon after being paid R30 000 in cash by the complainant.
The duo appeared at the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court last week Thursday, where Methi was granted R15 000 bail, and her son was granted R1000 bail, respectively. Their case was postponed to November 9 for further investigations, and they were ordered not to have any direct or indirect contact with the complainant and to inform the investigating officer should there be any change in their home address.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance's Caucus leader in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality, Johannes le Grange, said the arrest occured two weeks after the DA opened a case with the Hawks to investigate the irregular appointment of the company belonging to the complainant for the rental of 10 refuse removal trucks for a three-month contract under emergency regulation 36 of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Regulation.
"We are shocked that the alleged corruption is now with someone from the opposition, not the ANC. The arrest also came as opposition parties were preparing to table several reports on irregularly awarded contracts, which will definitely trigger a new wave of investigations," he said.
The DA also said it would monitor court proceedings of Methi, including the possible involvement of municipal officials and other councillors, to ensure that justice is served for the people of Matlosana.
