By Mpho Modiba
PHALABORWA-Selwane tribal office in Phalaborwa has been closed following the accusations of fraud by community members.
Following the tragic death of the late kgoshi Tebogo Malatji of Ba-Phalaborwa ba Selwane there has been a leadership vacuum and Samuel Kgashane Malatji is accused of trying to takeover authority through using fraudulent ways.
Malatji is accused by members of community that are led by English Mokgalaka that he forged meeting roll call, agenda and minutes that do not correspond with each other on behalf of the community. He is also accused of faking a roll call of people who came to buy stands and were made to sign it only to later find out their names was used as evidence of attendence to a meeting that never took place.
On 14 August the community took matters into their hands and closed the gate of the tribal office. The community camped outside the tribal office ensuring that nothing is working. Then later on 16 August the office was opened again and Samuel Khashane Malatji was made to write a letter indicating his commitment to withdraw his presence in tribal office issues.
On 23 August he returned and started to participate at fill scale. The community members went to open a case of fraud against Malatji at Lulekani Police Station to their surprise the police declined to open the case and told them only royal family members can open a case against Malatji.
Thereafter, they gave a report to the royal family and the family dragged their feet. Mokgalaka says the royal family is protecting one of their own at the expense of the community. Currently there are farmers that are making payments to pay lease of the land to the royal family and Malatji is accused of channelling the funds into his personal account.
Another issue is the upcoming renovations of Letaba Ranch Camp that will provide job opportunities for the Selwane community and Samuel Malatji is accused of frustrating and delaying the process for his selfish reasons. Mokgalaka says Lulekani Police are biased and take the side of the royal family instead of arresting the culprit. Malatji is also accused of sending hooligans to the tribal office to attempt a break in and the community members managed to fight them and they fled the scene.
When resquested to comment on the allegation Malatji says Mokgalaka is the one who is confusing the community. It is alleged that he lied to them that LEDET has set aside R250 million for renovations of Letaba camp of which LEDET denied the allegations. He says as Moshate they have arranged a meeting with LEDET to clarify this issue.
He further says that he never forged or faked any minutes of meeting. He says Mokgalaka and his people wants Moshate to stop working with BCF which is a legitimate structure meanwhile they are not a legitimate structure. He said Mokgalaka wants to be deployed as a representative to be part of the Letaba ranch renovations committee and he is using the community to achieve his goal.
He also explains that the Mokgalala family as one of the alleged claimants of the Letaba ranch land have denounced their support on Mokgalaka and says his behaviour is embarrassing the family.
