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North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi said there is a political smear campaign against him. Mokgosi was testifying before the provincial legislature’s ad hoc committee, probing allegations of improper conduct against him.
Naledi Local Municipality Mayor Clifton Groep alleged that Mokgosi instructed a former municipal employee, Thabo Appolus, to alter a report concerning the appointment of Modisenyane Segapo as municipal manager.
However, in his testimony, Mokgosi denied the allegation. He further stated that he never presented a draft report on Segapo’s recruitment during the meeting he attended with four other individuals, where Segapo’s appointment was reportedly discussed.
“He is the person better positioned to explain what is said, what was the content, what was the reason, which letter is he talking about and if he is in possession of that letter why is it not part of his affidavit that I said he must write. And I am not sure the letter that he speaks about where was it going? to who? to do what?” Mokgosi asked.
The incident happened in 2023 when Mokgosi was the African National Congress Chief Whip at the legislature.
Mokgosi has also dismissed the assertion that he convened a meeting to discuss interfering with Segapo’s appointment.
“My attendance of that meeting is not through Mr Sejake, it is through Mr Mathonsi and he felt strongly that I must become part of that meeting, and I then agreed to say fine I don’t have any much commitment today I can join you to go and listen to what are the issues.”
“The committee could not protect me in my absence, and could not also protect itself to be abused and used as a platform or enabler of people who have a political agenda to injure my dignity and cast aspersion and create a cloud on me. And nobody can convince otherwise and we will prove this as we go with this sittings of a concerted political effort to create dark cloud over my head and make my participation in my political sphere impossible,” Mokogisi added.
The Chairperson of the committee, Nathan Oliphant said, “It’s unfortunate Premier. You are of the view that there is a political effort from the ad hoc committee to attend to you politically. I don’t think any member of this ad hoc committee will either be allowed to act in such a fashion neither will they be allowed to conduct the work of this ad hoc committee in a way that seeks to be political.”
Mokgosi is expected to conclude his testimony when the committee continues with its hearings next month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_yi4nXCsTg
