By: Abigail Visagie

CENTLEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Malefane Sekoboto’s recent contract extension has come under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the decision-making process, transparency and compliance with procurement and governance regulations. The move has prompted renewed calls for accountability at the Mangaung Metro Municipality (MMM). The controversy follows accusations by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State that the municipality undermined transparency and limited public access by using closed December council meetings to push through questionable decisions, including the extension of Sekoboto’s contract until 31 March 2026. Sekoboto’s term was due to end on 31 December 2025. However, DA councillor Dirk Kotze said the contract was extended during a virtual meeting without adherence to the necessary legislative requirements, exposing the municipality to governance, audit and legal risks. “The DA opted not to participate in the vote regarding a three-month extension of the CENTLEC CEO’s contract,” said Kotze. “We warned that this decision violates legal requirements and exposes the municipality to serious governance, audit and legal risks. We condemn the Executive Mayor, Gregory Nthatisi, and the Speaker, Lawrence Mathae, for misusing closed council meetings to push questionable decisions, limit public access and undermine transparency.” Kotze further argued that the extension was unlawful. “According to the Municipal Systems Act, CEOs of municipal entities must be employed on fixed-term contracts. Once such a contract expires, the position must be declared vacant and an acting CEO legally appointed. Extending an expired contract circumvents safeguards designed to prevent the recycling of senior management contracts,” he said. In contrast, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) deputy chairperson in the Free State, Thomas Macingwane, dismissed the DA’s claims and urged residents to question the party’s credibility, accusing it of inconsistency and disowning its own decisions. Macingwane said council had resolved to extend the contract by three months to allow the recruitment process to continue, adding that closed council meetings are standard practice for senior management appointments. He argued that such procedures protect councillors from pressure by disgruntled or unsuccessful candidates. “On the issue of the extension, council resolved before recess that the CENTLEC board should advise council on the expiry of the CEO’s five-year contract. The DA had no issue with that decision at the time, but because they are inconsistent and have their own preferences for who should be CEO, they launched a campaign against this CEO from the beginning of the financial year,” said Macingwane. Macingwane’s claims were supported by Mangaung Metro acting spokesperson Nicolette Maysiels, who confirmed that council had approved the relevant reports, albeit with some amendments. Maysiels told Journal News that council met on 15 December to correct the composition of the interim board and resolved to extend its term as an acting board for a period not exceeding three months. “On 22 December 2025, the interim board then met to consider the position of the CEO and the related human resources processes,” she said. According to Maysiels, the meeting passed several resolutions, including the extension of the CEO’s employment contract for a further three months, in line with clause 17.3 of Sekoboto’s employment contract.