North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has denied claims of interfering in a municipal appointment, calling them part of a political smear campaign. He made these statements while testifying before a provincial committee investigating the allegations. The claims stem from a 2023 incident involving a report on a municipal manager's hiring.
North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi testified before the provincial legislature’s ad hoc committee, which is probing allegations of improper conduct against him. The accusations originated from Naledi Local Municipality Mayor Clifton Groep, who claimed that Mokgosi instructed former municipal employee Thabo Appolus to alter a report related to the appointment of Modisenyane Segapo as municipal manager.
Mokgosi firmly rejected the allegation during his testimony. He stated that he never presented a draft report on Segapo’s recruitment at a meeting attended by four other individuals, where the appointment was 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," Mokgosi questioned, referring to Appolus.
The incident occurred in 2023, when Mokgosi served as the African National Congress Chief Whip in the legislature. He also dismissed suggestions that he convened the meeting to interfere with Segapo’s appointment, explaining that his attendance was arranged through Mr Mathonsi, who insisted he join to hear the issues.
Mokgosi described the proceedings as a concerted political effort to damage his reputation. "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," he said.
Committee Chairperson Nathan Oliphant responded by rejecting any notion of political bias. "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," Oliphant stated.
Mokgosi’s testimony is set to resume when the committee holds its next hearings next month.
