Madibeng Mayor Douglas Maimane last week responded strongly to a statement made by MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) regarding the appointment of the municipal manager.

MEC Oageng Molapisi and Madibeng mayor Douglas Maimane.

MEC Oageng Molapisi stated during recent public CoGTA hearings that a concurrence letter had been issued to the Office of the Mayor regarding the appointment of the municipal manager, Quiet Kgatla, and that no response from Madibeng was received. Maimane placed it on record during the same meeting that no such correspondence had been received.
Kgatla was appointed municipal manager in December 2024. “In compliance with the Municipal Systems Act, the mayor submitted the appointment file to the MEC on 13 December 2024, requesting concurrence. No response to this submission was received until the Executive Mayor raised the matter through written correspondence on 3 September 2025,” said mayoral spokesperson Thabo Skhosana.
“In pursuit of accountability, the Executive Mayor formally addressed correspondence to the MEC on 3 September, requesting documentary proof of the alleged communication.” On 4 September, the Office of the Mayor received correspondence from the MEC wherein concurrence for the appointment of the municipal manager was declined.
Skhosana said that it was imperative to note that, in terms of the law, the municipal council remains the sole appointing authority for the position of municipal manager.
“A comprehensive report will accordingly be tabled before Council for deliberation on the correspondence received from the MEC, and any resolution adopted will thereafter be communicated officially. With respect to the Section 106 investigation instituted by the MEC, the municipality awaits the outcome thereof. Upon receipt, the report will be tabled before Council, and only thereafter made public in accordance with prescripts,” he said.