Mayor of Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality in Limpopo, Merriam Molala was whisked away by the private security from angry community members during the intergrated development plan (IDP) budget presentation at Lebowakgomo community civic hall.
Molala arrived two hours late to the meeting that was scheduled for 14h00 and found too many empty chairs in the hall, while some residents who lost patience gathered outside the hall on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.
While she was giving remarks on the proposed budget presentation, the residents who are said to be aggrieved by the poor service delivery in the municipality turned violent and started throwing objects at her and other council members.
In a video that is widely circulating on social media, Molala was seen rescued by the security while the residents’ pelted stones directed at her and the vehicles she drove off with.
The security fired gunshots to disperse the violent crowd.
The residents are accusing the municipality of, amongst other things, corruption and nepotism during the allocation of sites for stands in Lebowakgomo and also of poor service delivery.
The municipal spokesperson, Lazzy Ledwaba said the mayor escaped the violent incident unharmed and further revealed that a criminal case has been opened with the Lebowakgomo Police.
“Residents of the Lebowakgomo Cluster had a platform to give inputs towards the IDP and raise service delivery concerns. Unfortunately, after the meeting a group of Defenders of the People (DOP) members led by their President (Topa Mphahlele) tried to attack the Mayor.
“However, the Mayor was whisked away and fortunately she was not harmed in any way while a case has been opened with the police against those who initiated the violent attack, “ Ledwaba said.
He labelled the allegations of nepotism and favouritism as baseless and said the municipality followed correct procedures and ensured that everyone got an equal opportunity during the allocation of sites.
According to the 2024/25 Capricorn district Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) forum, Lepelle-Nkumpi municipality recorded over R13 million in irregular and R322,542 in unauthorised expenditure, which are all written off without accountability.
According to some residents of Lebowakgomo Zones B and F, under the same municipality, they have been without a reliable source of water since December 2024, following damage caused by a contractor to a pipeline supplying the area.
Last month the EFF in Limpopo led a march to Lepelle Nkumpi municipality protesting against the water crisis, illegal billing, electrification of villages, road maintenance, jobs for ANC members and high volume of youth unemployment in the municipality.
