Pule Makgale
A whistleblower has exposed a report revealing a series of irregular appointments and a jobs-for-pals syndicate happening at the Mangaung Municipality in the Free State.
The report, which surfaced on 1 April 2025, accuses several high-ranking officials of bypassing standard recruitment procedures and making appointments based on favouritism rather than merit. The report has been shared with the minister of Cogta, the Public Protector, the premier of the Free State and President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The most significant revelations come from the Public Safety Directorate, where between December 2023 and January 2024, four individuals were hired without proper advertisements or interviews. The newly appointed staff included Mr. Rethabile Makoloane, Ms. Tsametse Moshaoa, Hloue Msiza, and Masithela Phandliwe. According to the report all were handpicked by the leadership, Sello More and Mr. Kgamanyane.
The appointments violated municipal hiring protocols that require transparency and fairness. No public advertisements were posted, and no interviews were held, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the process.
The story doesn’t end there. Even more alarming are the allegations regarding the City Manager’s office.
“In late 2023, Mr. Sello More, the City Manager himself, approved several appointments within his own office -again without any advertisements or interviews. Among those hired were Mr. Nico Mosala, who was first appointed as a Chief Clerk before being promoted to a Service Delivery Monitor; Mr. Mongameli Ngangelizwe, Mr. Thamsanqa Milela, Mr. Moses Mokae, and Ms. Setshego Seekoei, all of whom took up roles in administration and service delivery. Their appointments, similar to those in Public Safety, bypassed the normal recruitment process, a blatant disregard for municipal policy” the report reads.
The most controversial case involves Mr. Mohau Mpakane, who was appointed to the prestigious position of General Manager for Research & Knowledge Management. While the post was publicly advertised, the qualifications listed in the advertisement required a National Diploma or a B.Degree in Information and Business Management, along with several years of experience. According to the report, Mpakane, who was appointed despite not meeting these criteria, has no such qualifications.
Several other applicants who did meet the advertised requirements were passed over, prompting them to file a grievance with the Bargaining Council under Case Number FSD 092418. This decision has raised suspicions that political favouritism and personal connections allegedly played a role in Mpakane’s hiring.
Adding fuel to the fire, the case of Mr. L Rasoeu, a former PR Councillor for the Democratic Alliance in Mangaung, has also come under scrutiny. Rasoeu applied for and was appointed to the position of Manager for Knowledge Acquisition and Exchange, a position that was only supposed to be open to internal candidates. His status as a former councillor disqualified him from the post, yet he was selected regardless. This has led to another referral to the Bargaining Council, under Case Number FSD 092419, by disgruntled employees who were overlooked for the role.
Lastly, there is the bizarre case of Mr. DD Arries, a clerk appointed in 2024 alongside 23 others. Arries is the only person among the group who was not previously employed by the municipality, and his appointment raises serious questions. The 23 other appointees had all been flagged as “Ghost Workers” in the municipality’s payroll, making Arries’s appointment even more suspicious.
This whistleblower’s revelations have exposed a deep-seated culture of corruption within Mangaung Municipality, where nepotism, favoritism, and improper appointments have undermined the integrity of the local government.
The municipality had still not commented on the scandal. This is a developing story.