Court orders Madibeng to reinstate MM
The High Court has ordered the Madibeng Municipality this week to reinstate Municipal Manager Quiet Kgatla, who was suspended in April this year.

Madibeng Municipal Manager Quiet Kgatla.
Kgatla was appointed municipal manager in December 2024 after the municipality had been operating with acting municipal managers for years.
He was suspended in March after allegations of misconduct.
The court ordered on Tuesday that Madibeng allow Kgatla to resume his duties as municipal manager, and that the municipality is interdicted and restrained from continuing with unlawful disciplinary proceedings against Kgatla. The municipality was also ordered to pay the cost of Kgatla’s court application.
Shortly after the court order on Tuesday, the municipality immediately applied for leave to appeal the decision by the High Court.
Kgatla was accused of alleged misconduct in the appointment of a contractor without following the supply chain management process. He was also accused of financial misconduct after he allegedly instructed the withdrawal of R25 million from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to pay security contractors and operational contracts.
Kgatla said that the allegations against him were baseless, as the whistleblower had insufficient information and proof. Kgatla said the appointed contractor withdrew, and the delay caused increased illegal connections and losses. He said the project required immediate intervention.
Regarding the use of MIG funds for the payment of security services, he said that, except for the MIG account, all the municipality’s other accounts had a nil balance.
“The reason for tapping into the MIG instead of the money set aside for salaries was informed by the fact that the municipality had until June 2025 to exhaust its MIG cash received, but it had no such latitude when it comes to salaries and wages.” The money borrowed from the MIG account was paid back in January through the collection of service charges.
Kgatla returned to his office in May when his suspension period was over and the council had not yet acted on the report of the disciplinary board. He was escorted out of the building. Kgatla said that he had returned to work because the investigation was unlawful and he was not allowed to make a representation to defend the allegations.
Kgatla subsequently took the municipality to court.
The DA expressed its serious concern following the collapse of a council meeting on Tuesday due to the court order. “This marks the fourth consecutive meeting to fail, highlighting the ongoing political instability that continues to undermine service delivery in the municipality. The collapse follows a pattern of opposition resistance and internal ANC infighting, which has paralysed governance and left residents without the essential services they deserve,” said DA councillor Erna Rossouw.
“The court order interdicted and restrained the council from pursuing or discussing the Municipal Manager as the sole agenda item, deeming such actions unlawful. Despite this clear directive, the Speaker chose to ignore the court order and proceeded with the meeting. Opposition parties walked out, and due to no quorum, the meeting lapsed again. The court also awarded costs in favour of Mr. Kgatla on an attorney-client scale.
Within an hour of the order being granted, De Swardt Myambo Hlahla Attorneys filed a notice to appeal, a move undertaken without a Council resolution, further fuelling suspicions of procedural manipulation,” she said.
“The DA urges the provincial government to intervene under Section 139 of the Constitution to stabilise the municipality and ensure the court order is respected.”