The African National Congress’s Peter Mokaba Region in Limpopo says it has launched an investigation following the leak of an audio clip allegedly featuring Maria Thamaga, mayor of Blouberg Local Municipality, in which she allegedly admits that she is “busy stealing money.”
In the clip, which has been widely circulated on social media platforms, a voice believed to be that of Thamaga’s is heard in a heated exchange with a fellow woman, believed to be an ANC ward councillor.
In the audio, Thamaga allegedly told the councillor that she had given councillors R3,000 the previous week to facilitate attendance at a branch meeting.
The meeting is believed to be about putting her name forward for the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) to help her retain her mayoral position.
The councillor responds that the meeting did not take place due to a lack of transport to collect community members from various villages.
She says she often uses her own vehicle to transport residents from about nine villages and that, on the day in question, she used her car to assist someone who had a court appearance.
It is unclear when and where the meeting was scheduled to take place.
The discussion becomes tense, with the councillor accusing Thamaga of criticising using municipal funds.
“Can you please listen to me, don’t try to scold me with the municipal money,” the councillor says.
In response, Thamaga allegedly says, “I am not taking municipal funds, but I am stealing. I am busy stealing so that I can give it to you, so that you can be nice.”
She further claims that failure to do so could result in her removal from office, alleging that some councillors are pushing for her removal.
“And if I don’t steal I have to be removed from being your mayor,” she allegedly says.
The clip does not indicate where the money was allegedly sourced.
The councillor in the recording insists they support the mayor, saying a list she has begins with Thamaga to be backed again as mayor, followed by others from different regions.
IOL News contacted ANC provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka, who referred queries to the ANC Peter Mokaba Region.
Regional spokesperson Rudolph Rapetswa confirmed the party is aware of the clip and has launched an investigation.
“As the ANC Peter Mokaba Region, we have seen or heard the voice recording circulating on social media, allegedly believed to be the voice of the mayor and another ANC councillor,” Rapetswa told IOL News.
“As the ANC, we do not want to jump to conclusions. We have launched an internal investigation to determine the authenticity of that particular voice clip. With the use of technology, including artificial intelligence, we cannot simply conclude that it is the mayor without satisfying ourselves that it is authentic.”
He said the party will have to trace the origin of the clip and would conduct an internal investigation, including engaging Thamaga, to verify whether the voices belong to her and the councillor.
“This is still fresh. We were caught by surprise,” he said.
Rapetswa added that many ANC deployees and branch leaders voluntarily use personal resources to assist the party, such as providing transport to meetings in rural wards.
“That is done on a voluntary basis. It is never an instruction of the party,” he said.
Asked whether a branch meeting was scheduled as mentioned on the clip, Rapetswa said the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) had presented a roadmap towards a provincial conference and that meetings were being organised.
“Individual branches write to the regional secretary requesting permission to hold such meetings. From where I am sitting, I cannot confirm whether there was a meeting or not, but it is that period of meetings as part of the roadmap towards the conference,” he said.
IOL News understands that Thamaga’s term as mayor ends in 2026. The much appreciated local government elections are set to be held late this year.
She assumed office in 2021 following the local government elections.
Meanwhile, opposition parties in Limpopo said they demand criminal charges and a motion of no confidence against Thamaga after leaked audio surfaced.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Limpopo said it was not surprised by the allegations.
Speaking with IOL News, EFF provincial chairperson Lawrence Mapoulo said the party would open a theft case against Thamaga at the local police station and submit a motion of no confidence for her removal.
“She admitted that they are stealing,” Mapoulo said. “We will open a case of theft at the local police station and also submit a motion of no confidence.”
He claimed service delivery in the municipality had collapsed and that several projects planned in previous years remained incomplete.
Build One South Africa’s Capricorn district chairperson, Ngako Setjie, also called for Thamaga to step aside.
Setjie also called for a forensic and independent investigation into the municipality’s finances and procurement processes.
“She must tell people where she is getting the money. It suggests delegates may have been bought to support her over the years,” Setjie said.
He, too, alleged poor service delivery in the area, including potholes and gravel roads, and accused the ANC of protecting the mayor.
Setjie said his organisation would also open a theft case with police with Polokwane SAPS.
Meanwhile, Rapetswa said that the ANC was not aware of public funds being used to influence internal party conferences.
“If the ANC becomes aware of such conduct, that person will be recalled from their position without any doubt,” he said.
IOL Politics
Simon Majadibodu
iol.co.za
