The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Sekhukhune Region will demand access to all relevant information and a full explanation as to how the ANC-led Council of the Ephraim Mogale Municipality arrived at the decision to sell valuable municipal property directly to a single private company, Twin City Trading, in circumstances that raise serious concerns about whether a fair, transparent, and competitive process was followed.
As the DA, we will demand full access to the valuation reports, the justification for bypassing a competitive process, and the legal opinions relied upon by the municipality. We will also escalate the matter to the Auditor-General, National Treasury, and relevant oversight bodies, as the transaction may constitute irregular expenditure and an unlawful disposal of a municipal asset.
The DA will not allow this matter to pass unchecked. If necessary, legal action will be pursued under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act to review and set aside this decision.
We view this decision, which was taken at a Council meeting held on the 23 January 2026, with grave concern. This decision is not only reckless, but unlawful.
See attached the Council item OC3/20/2026 here.
Section 217 of the Constitution is clear: when an organ of state disposes of assets, it must do so through a system that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective. The direct sale of municipal land to a pre-selected company without a public auction or competitive process, and without a lawful and rational basis, is fundamentally inconsistent with these requirements.
The Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations of 2008 further require that municipal land may only be disposed of if it is declared non-essential, sold at fair market value, and in compliance with the municipality’s Supply Chain Management policy. None of these safeguards appear to have been met. Of particular concern is that one valuation reportedly valued the property at over R10 million, yet Council approved its sale for just under R4 million.
Even more troubling is an indication that the developer was conditionally appointed before public participation and due process were concluded, effectively placing the outcome before the process.
This lack of competition raises serious red flags regarding value for money, maladministration, and potential corruption. Public land does not belong to the ANC; it belongs to the people of Ephraim Mogale.
At a time of collapsing infrastructure, failing service delivery, and severe budget constraints, it is unconscionable for municipalities to dispose of public assets through opaque and unlawful processes. Public land must serve the public interest, not political insiders.
Where the DA governs, public assets are managed openly, lawfully, and in the public interest.