MATLOSANA’S CFO MERCY PHETLA FALLS: GUILTY VERDICT SPARKS DISMISSAL AND UNRAVELS WEB OF MISCONDUCT, CORRUPTION, AND POLITICAL TURMOIL

Chief Financial Officer, Mercy Phetla.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.

The City of Matlosana Local Municipality has been shaken by the dramatic downfall of its Chief Financial Officer, Mercy Phetla, who was fired after a disciplinary inquiry found her guilty on five serious charges of gross misconduct, dishonesty, and dereliction of duty.

Municipal Manager Lesego Seametso confirmed that Phetla’s employment was terminated with immediate effect once the internal proceedings concluded, marking the end of a high‑profile saga that exposed deep flaws in the municipality’s financial governance.

The disciplinary process was triggered by a scathing inquiry report that branded Phetla’s conduct as intentional and damaging to the municipality’s financial integrity. The investigation uncovered a pattern of serious breaches that compromised the City’s fiscal management and sparked intense political tension within the ANC‑led council.

Factions attempted to delay the disciplinary process, but legal and procedural requirements ultimately forced the council to implement the findings and enforce the dismissal. Critics, notably the Democratic Alliance, accused certain council members of trying to shield Phetla from accountability, alleging that political maneuvering threatened to undermine good governance in Matlosana.

The controversy highlighted a broader struggle between transparency and political protectionism in local administration, drawing public attention to the municipality’s accountability mechanisms.

Phetla’s case is linked to a series of high‑profile corruption allegations involving irregular payments and luxury vehicles, which have triggered criminal investigations and court actions. Authorities have seized several high‑value vehicles connected to the case, and municipal finances have been under intense scrutiny for months as investigators probe the full extent of the financial misconduct.

The allegations suggest that Phetla’s actions were part of a larger scheme that jeopardized the municipality’s assets and public trust. The dismissal of Mercy Phetla represents more than a personnel decision; it signals a pivotal moment for the Matlosana municipality, which now faces the challenge of restoring financial discipline and public confidence.

The case has exposed the vulnerability of local government to political interference and corruption, prompting calls for stricter oversight and reforms to prevent similar abuses in the future.

As the criminal investigations continue, the municipality is expected to implement tighter financial controls and review its internal disciplinary procedures to ensure accountability at all levels.

The outcome of the court actions will determine whether further legal consequences will follow the administrative sanctions already imposed on Phetla. The Matlosana saga serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked misconduct in public office and the importance of robust governance structures to protect municipal resources and integrity.

The community now watches closely to see how the city rebuilds its financial management systems and restores trust in its leadership after this explosive episode of guilt, dismissal, and political fallout.

Mercy Phetla’s sudden fall from grace in Matlosana has reignited questions about her controversial employment history. She claims she was unfairly dismissed from Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality in Mpumalanga for refusing to authorize a questionable payment to a service provider, and later from Ditsobotla Local Municipality under similar circumstances.

While Phetla has framed these exits as acts of whistleblowing and taxpayer protection, critics point to a different narrative one of repeated misconduct and legal entanglements.

At the time of her appointment in Matlosana, she was reportedly already out on bail for financial misconduct charges, raising serious concerns about how she was vetted and hired into such a sensitive role. “How did Matlosana entrust her with public funds while she was battling allegations elsewhere?” asked a senior municipal source. “It’s either gross negligence or deliberate political patronage.”

The contradictions in Phetla’s story have deepened public suspicion. If she truly was a victim of political victimization in her previous roles, why did her tenure in Matlosana end in a guilty verdict on five counts of financial misconduct? And if she was already facing criminal charges, why was she not placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of those cases?

These unanswered questions have fueled speculation that her appointment may have been politically motivated, and that her dismissal, while justified, is only the tip of a much larger iceberg. As investigations continue, pressure is mounting on Matlosana’s leadership to explain how such a compromised individual was allowed to oversee the city’s finances and whether others within the municipality were complicit in enabling her alleged misconduct.