The Mopani district municipality in Limpopo has dismissed its chief financial officer (CFO), Sibongile Mathebula, following a disciplinary process that began in December 2024. The dismissal comes amid allegations of gross negligence in supply chain management processes.
CFO Dismissed Amid Negligence Allegations
Mathebula’s dismissal was finalized on Tuesday by the ANC-led municipality. The charges against her included gross negligence relating to the appointment of Ximatsatsa Investment Pty Ltd.
The company was awarded a R5.6 million tender purchase order for water-related parts over a 36-month period. An anonymous source within the municipality claimed a panel of contractors was appointed in 2023, prior to Ximatsatsa Investment Pty Ltd’s registration.
The Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) flagged the irregularity during an audit of the municipality’s financial books a year later, notifying the council. This led to Mathebula’s precautionary suspension with pay in December 2024, followed by legal proceedings until the final dismissal decision.
Mathebula confirmed she was aware of the charges and underwent a disciplinary hearing, but declined to comment further, stating her legal team was processing the verdict and would advise on the next steps.
Water Links
Mathebula previously served as CFO for the Lepelle Northern Water Agency, a state-owned water utility responsible for bulk water infrastructure in Limpopo. She reportedly left that position amid allegations of corruption in the tender award process.
Despite questions surrounding her departure from Lepelle, the Mopani district municipality hired her to manage its more than R2 billion annual budget.
Mayor Must Act
The DA in the Mopani district municipality has welcomed the dismissal, calling it a step in the right direction. DA councillor Mahlatswa Lebbeus Ramalepe urged the executive mayor, Pule Shayi, to expedite the recruitment of a suitably qualified CFO.
Ramalepe also called on the municipal manager, Tshepo Mogano, to implement consequence management for implicated officials within the finance and supply chain management directorates and to present a report to the council.
Corruption Warning
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently warned of the negative impact of corruption in local government on service delivery during his State of the Nation Address. The Institute for Security Studies reports that municipal corruption is often systemic, involving collusion, tender fraud, nepotism, and overpricing, resulting in roughly R32 billion in annual losses and damaging local infrastructure and economic growth.
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