Opposition parties within the Matlosana Local Municipality are intensifying pressure on the council to formally address the high-profile corruption case involving the municipality’s Chief Financial Officer, Mercy Phetla. This follows a North West High Court order preserving R2.7 million in luxury assets linked to the alleged scheme.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Forfeiture Unit, in collaboration with the Hawks, secured the preservation order against Phetla and five co-accused. The order targets three high-end vehicles—a Range Rover, a Mercedes Benz, and a Maserati Levante—believed to be the proceeds of crime.
According to the Hawks’ investigation, the municipality paid approximately R6 million to a company, Variegated PTY LTD, for services that were never rendered. The alleged fraudulent transactions took place between September 2023 and January 2024.
The CFO, alongside her colleague Josephine Sekhejane—the municipality’s former acting store controller—and Tebello Sebetlele, a director of Variegated PTY LTD, were initially arrested in 2024. Three additional suspects were arrested earlier this year, 2025, on charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering.
Political Pressure Mounts
The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has expressed frustration with the council’s inaction. A DA representative stated that their repeated requests for a formal report to be tabled, which would allow the council to decide on Phetla’s suspension, have been ignored.
“We’ve been pushing that that report be submitted to council in terms of the discipline regulations for senior managers,” the representative said. “Because in terms of the regulations, council has the power to suspend her and keep her from office.”
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also demanded that the matter be moved from “social media to the council chambers where it belongs.”
“We are going to wait for the item to come to council… We can’t take an issue from social media and then come and [make] allegations against any senior officials. There is a law that tells us how to deal with senior officials,” an EFF member commented.
Business Community Voices Concern
The local business sector has echoed the political parties’ concerns, stating that the ongoing scandal damages the municipality’s reputation and economic prospects.
“We are very concerned about these ongoing investigations, and it seems that the investigations are now being put with solid proof of the corruption in our municipality,” a business representative said. “The whole municipality and the way they are conducting their business is not in favor of business at all.”
Municipality Assures Public of Control
In response to the growing outcry, the Matlosana Local Municipality has issued a statement assuring the public that the matter is being handled.
“We welcome the work that is done by the law enforcement agencies,” a municipal spokesperson said. “We want to assure the nation that this is not a process that started out of nowhere. It is a process that was started by the municipality after we picked up certain mishaps. We then reported the matter to the law enforcement agencies.”
The spokesperson added, “The municipality has the capacity to deal with the matter and is going to pronounce itself on the matter.”
The criminal case against CFO Mercy Phetla and her co-accused is scheduled to return to the specialised commercial crime court on 27th October.
