DA blocks golden handshake for suspended Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipal Manager

25 Aug 2025 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance(DA) caucus led the charge to deny  any further payouts to the suspended municipal manager, Ben Thobela, during a Special Council meeting of the Modimolle- Mookgophong municipality on 21 August 2025.

Council received a proposal by the suspended manager indicating his willingness to resign with immediate effect, on the  conditions  that all disciplinary matters against him be set aside, council  pay all his legal costs including costs and  remuneration for the 24 months left of his contract.

We firmly reject any agreement in which costs or further monies are paid to the suspended manager.

The DA also proposed it will accept the immediate resignation of Mr. Thobela and agree to the stopping of disciplinary proceedings only on condition  that any criminal investigations must proceed unhindered.

The DA’s proposals were unanimously supported by council; and we  will monitor the processes closely to ensure that council’s resolutions are implemented.

Modimolle-Mookgophong  residents deserve transparency, accountability and effective governance, not malfeasance which exacerbates poor service delivery.