The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Limpopo Legislature commends the firm stance taken by the Standing Committee on Petitions in holding public officials accountable. This follows the repeated failure of Vhembe District Executive Mayor, Cllr T.F. Nkodo, to respond to lawful requests to appear before the Committee, a serious disregard for the Committee’s authority and the law.
After receiving the formal report of the Petitions Committee, which recommended that criminal charges be instituted against the Mayor for failing to comply with invitations and subpoenas, the Speaker of the Legislature contacted the Mayor directly to obtain clarity on her refusal to appear before the Committee.
During this engagement, the Mayor reportedly informed the Speaker that she was unaware of the need to appear before the Petitions Committee. This explanation cannot be accepted at face value. The Committee had on three separate occasions, 1 November 2024, 15 November 2024, and 11 April 2025,issued invitations and/or subpoenas requiring the Mayor’s personal appearance.
Furthermore, the Mayor had previously delegated an Acting Mayor to appear on her behalf, despite having been explicitly informed that both she and the Municipal Manager were required to attend in person to ensure proper oversight and lawful decision-making.
Following this, the Speaker convened a meeting with the Petitions Committee and the Legal Services Unit to obtain clarity. During this engagement, the Chairperson and other Committee Members provided a full account of the process followed and the Mayor’s persistent failure to comply.
The outcome of the meeting was both constructive and reaffirming, yielding the following results:
- The Speaker confirmed her understanding that she does not have the authority to interfere with the powers and duties of a standing committee;
- The Committee made it clear that it would continue to uphold the purpose of the Petitions Act and protect the interests of all petitioners, and would not allow its work to be undermined by political considerations; and
- The Committee’s independence and institutional integrity must at all times be preserved — and be seen to be protected.
The DA expresses its appreciation to the Chairperson of the Petitions Committee, Hon. SM Mataboge MPL, for his calm and principled leadership throughout.
Let it be stated unequivocally: the work of the Standing Committee on Petitions in Limpopo is not optional. Compliance with its instructions is a legal obligation, not a courtesy.
The Mayor’s continued failure to comply with lawful directives must now be dealt with decisively. The DA will ensure that this matter is not swept aside and will continue to demand accountability — on behalf of the petitioners and the people of Limpopo.