Dismissed Mopani District Municipality Chief Financial Officer, Sibongile Mathebula.
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The Mopani District Municipality has dismissed its Chief Financial Officer, Sibongile Mathebula, following a disciplinary process into alleged financial misconduct.
Mathebula’s dismissal was enacted on Tuesday, with the municipality confirming the decision in an official statement. According to the council, the outcome followed a formal hearing and was implemented with immediate effect.
Spokesperson Odas Ngobeni said the decision was based on the recommendations of the disciplinary process, which was conducted in line with municipal regulations and labour laws.
“The council’s decision follows the recommendations of a disciplinary hearing conducted in accordance with municipal regulations and labour laws,” Ngobeni said.
He said Mathebula was given an opportunity to respond to the allegations during the proceedings, and that councillors considered all submissions before concluding.
“After careful consideration of the submissions made, the council concluded that dismissal with immediate effect was necessary,” he said.
Mathebula faced accusations of unlawfully awarding a R5.6 million contract related to the procurement of borehole spares. The municipality emphasised that the process complied with labour legislation and governance requirements.
The district, which includes local municipalities such as Greater Giyani, Greater Tzaneen, and Maruleng, continues to face service delivery and financial management pressures typical of many rural administrations, including infrastructure backlogs, water supply challenges, and revenue collection constraints.
Following the dismissal, the council said it would tighten oversight and adopt a stronger stance against misconduct.
“Council has reaffirmed its commitment to clean governance and accountability. The municipality will continue to intensify its fight against fraud, corruption, and financial mismanagement,” Ngobeni said.
The municipality also warned that officials responsible for financial losses could face consequences, adding that new internal controls were being introduced to prevent similar incidents.
“We have an inherent obligation to safeguard public resources and to act responsibly and transparently at all times,” he said.
No acting CFO has yet been announced, and it remains unclear whether civil recovery or criminal proceedings will follow.
Mopani has struggled in recent years to maintain financial stability at the senior administrative level. Mathebula’s predecessor, Quiet Kgatla, was investigated by the Special Investigating Unit in 2021 over the approval of a R3.1 million payment for borehole services that were allegedly not delivered in affected communities. He resigned before the council could meet and resolve on the implementation of the SIU recommendations.