In a controversial move, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised concerns over the condition of a vehicle assigned to Sedibeng District Municipality’s former mayor, Lerato Maloka.
According to the DA, brown sugar was reportedly found in the engine of the Mercedes Benz that Maloka was forced to use after resisting for a year.
This allegation comes after Maloka was removed from her position as mayor on January 29, 2025, in a no-confidence motion passed by the Sedibeng council.
The No-Confidence Vote and Maloka’s Removal
The motion, spearheaded by the DA, saw 26 councillors voting in favor of her removal, while 21 voted against it.
DA councillor Sibusiso Dyonase celebrated the ousting, stating that the Sedibeng District Municipality was finally free of Maloka’s leadership, which he described as ineffective and problematic.
In the coming days, the council is expected to convene again to elect a new mayor.
The DA has been vocal about Maloka’s poor performance during her tenure.
A key reason for her removal was her failure to implement a financial recovery plan, leaving the municipality’s finances in disarray.
This mismanagement was compounded by an increase in fruitless spending, including a significant amount being wasted on salaries rather than essential services, which severely impacted the community.
Shocking Allegations of Neglect and Mismanagement
The DA’s Dyonase revealed that Maloka’s tenure was marked by financial missteps, including the municipality reaching a point where 75% of its budget was consumed by salaries, leaving little for essential services.
He further criticized her for spending over R550,000 on a trip to Germany, even as the municipality struggled to pay its employees.
However, the most startling revelation was that Maloka refused to use a vehicle provided by the council for an entire year, only to have it develop mechanical issues when she was finally forced to drive it.
Technicians later discovered that brown sugar had been poured into the car’s engine, an act the DA deems as sabotage.
EFF Responds to Maloka’s Removal
Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng have also welcomed Maloka’s ouster.
The EFF pointed to the decay and dysfunction plaguing the Sedibeng district, citing corruption, incompetence, and poor service delivery as ongoing issues.
The party has long maintained that the African National Congress (ANC) no longer holds a majority in Sedibeng or Emfuleni Local Municipality but has continued to govern as though it does.
The EFF sees the vote as a wake-up call to the ANC, emphasizing that no political party can claim unchecked power moving forward.
Looking Ahead to 2026 Elections
As the political landscape in Sedibeng shifts, many are left wondering if Gauteng’s municipalities will be ready for the 2026 local elections.
With the growing dissatisfaction among voters, political parties are under pressure to clean up their act and deliver on promises to improve service delivery and address corruption.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn