Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba has strongly dismissed allegations linking her to corruption in the Mogalakwena local municipality, calling the claims “baseless” and part of a smear campaign.
Allegations surfaced online after a Facebook account under the name Tshepo Ledwaba alleged that Mogalakwena municipal manager, Morris Montengo Maluleka, was pressured by Ramathuba and Limpopo MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu, to sign off multimillion-rand transactions and employ family members.
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The account has since been deactivated, but the same claims reappeared through a page titled Mogalakwena Corruption and a parody X (Twitter) account, which shared screenshots of invoices. The post alleged: “I want the public and my family to know about this because anything might happen to me and you must know who might be responsible for my death.”
Premier’s Office Rejects Mogalakwena Corruption Allegations
Ramathuba’s spokesperson, Thilivhali Muavha, dismissed the accusations, stressing that municipal managers do not report to the premier or MECs.
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“The office of the premier wants to be clear: these assertions are false. They reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the operational dynamics in government. Municipal councils and their municipal managers operate independently and do not operationally report to the premier or the MEC,” Muavha said.
He added that neither the premier nor the MEC has the legal authority to interfere in municipal operations, and some of the alleged transactions date back to 2023, before Ramathuba’s election as premier.
Phophi Ramathuba Labels Allegations a ‘Smear Campaign’
According to Muavha, the allegations appear to be politically motivated rather than a “genuine inquiry into the truth.”
“Even if a municipal manager receives a directive from the mayor, he is duty-bound to refuse any illegal orders. Consequently, these allegations are not only baseless but also lack any understanding of local government operations,” he said.
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The Limpopo premier reiterated that her office remains committed to good governance and accountability, calling on the public not to fall for misinformation spread on social media platforms.
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