Chaos seems to reign in the Madibeng Municipality following the suspension of the municipal manager, accusations of interference by the provincial ANC and seemingly intentional boycotting of three special council meetings to address the investigation into the municipal manager.

Protestors trashed the entrance to the municipal building on Wednesday.

The suspended municipal manager, Quiet Kgatla, was removed from the municipal offices on Thursday when he returned to work after a 30-day suspension. On the same day, a special council meeting collapsed because of a quorum on the disciplinary board report into Kgatla. On Monday, a third meeting collapsed.
Kgatla returned to his office because his suspension period was over and the council had not yet acted on the report of the disciplinary board. Kgatla told Citizen that he had returned to work because the investigation was unlawful and he was not allowed to make a representation to defend allegations. Kgatla was accused of misconduct, irregular procurement and the withdrawal of R15m from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) in December to pay service providers. The money was paid back into the MIG account in January. He was also accused of irregularly appointing a contractor for the electrification of Damonsville after the previous contractor failed to do the work.
Kgatla has taken the municipality to court.
Madibeng councillor Erna Rossouw said this week that the special council meeting to discuss the disciplinary board’s report collapsed for the third time, once again due to resistance from opposition parties and certain ANC councillors. “The continued dysfunction highlights a disturbing pattern of political instability that is paralysing service delivery in our municipality. The presence of the ANC’s Secretary General in the North West Province at yet another council sitting raises serious concerns. It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a deliberate attempt to usurp control of the municipality through political manipulation and interference,” she said.
“The Municipal Manager (MM) was suspended for 30 days pending an investigation. However, despite the lapse of this period, the acting municipal manager remains in office while the suspended municipal manager has been sent home. This has created an untenable situation and a blatant disregard for due process. The council is now awaiting the outcome of the court case concerning the suspended municipal manager. What is even more alarming is that the council is being pressured to accept the findings of a disciplinary board whose process and recommendations were not democratically mandated. This coercion has led to a new motion proposing the appointment of an independent investigative team.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Madibeng firmly rejects any attempt by the ANC to manipulate council processes for political gain. “We will not stand by while the integrity of our local government is compromised. Enough is enough. The people of Madibeng deserve transparency, accountability, and effective governance—not chaos engineered by political power plays,” Rossouw said.
Madibeng spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala said that the municipal manager was still on suspension until the investigation had been finalised or the suspension lifted by the council. “The council, during its ordinary sitting on 27 March 2025, resolved to put the municipal manager, Quiet Kgatla, on precautionary suspension as per the recommendations of the disciplinary board. “Council subsequently, during its special sitting on 31 March 2025, resolved to appoint the Director for Corporate Support Services, Daniel Masemola, to act as municipal manager for a period not exceeding three months.”
To add to the chaos, on Wednesday, protestors from Damonsville trashed the entrance to the municipal building in Brits, protesting about the electrification of Damonsville – the very project Kgatla wanted to resolve and one of the reasons he was suspended for. “The matter is receiving urgent attention, and Mayor Douglas Maimane addressed the community,” said spokesperson Tumelo Tshabalala.