By Lerato Mutlanyane
North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, appeared before an ad hoc committee on Saturday, 14 February 2026, to address aallegationsof misconduct and corruption involving the Naledi Local Municipality.
As the final witness in the public hearings, the Premier’s testimony concluded a provincial investigation into Executive Mayor Clifton Groep.
The inquiry focused on claims that legislative processes were manipulated to target political rivals. Specifically, it was alleged that while serving as the African National Congress (ANC) chief whip in the legislature, Mokgosi pressured former employee, Thabo Appolus, to alter an audit report concerning the 2023 appointment of Modisenyane Segapo as municipal manager.
During the proceedings, Mokgosi challenged the affidavits submitted by municipal employee Thabo Sejake, as well as those from Appolus and Segapo. Despite evidence presented to verify the aallegationsagainst him, the Mokgosi dismissed the testimony and text messages as part of a coordinated political plot. He told the committee.
“Now listening to the discussion of people who made affidavits, I now realise that having not responded to that message was a correct instinct because it proved that Appolus, Segapo and Sejake had been communicating amongst themselves. They have been plotting the ‘Mokgosi Must Fall campaign’. Even the messages that are there are concocted,” Mokgosi alleged.
The hearing grew tense during a sharp exchange between the Premier and the evidence leader, Senior Advocate Pule Seleka, who accused Mokgosi of improperly interrogating witnesses who had not directly implicated him.
“If his explanation suits what I explained and the other witnesses, then I’m not sure if that to you is corroboration,” Mokgosi retorted.
In response to Mokgosi’s assertions, Sejake maintained that the committee simply sought clarity through his line of qquestioning stressing that his queries were also highlighting.
“It has nothing to do with me. The ad hoc committee wants to hear your version of events.”
Mokgosi remained on the offensive, nonetheless, accusing the committee of failing to provide specific proof of the alleged tampering. He argued that he deserved a clear explanation of the charges, as he is the individual placed at the centre of the claims.
“I’m at the centre of allegations. I must respond to the allegations, and my expectation was to be told how I tampered, when I tampered or attempted to tamper and also, on what I tampered with,” he stated.
The controversy is rooted in a November 14 Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling, which declared Segapo’s appointment constitutionally invalid due to procedural failures. Although eight people applied for the post, only Segapo and Appolus were shortlisted.
After Appolus withdrew, the council proceeded with Segapo’s appointment despite various irregularities. While Mayor Groep alleged that Mokgosi attempted to block the appointment, the court’s findings added a layer of complexity by revealing that Segapo was not legally qualified for the role.
The court noted that “any exercise of public power must be within the confines of the law,” concluding that the municipality’s recruitment process failed to meet this standard. The final phase of the inquiry included testimony from a wide range of witnesses, including current and former municipal officials, political office bearers, and provincial representatives.
Committee chairperson, Nathan Oliphant, concluded the hearings by asserting that the process remained independent, impartial, and fair. The ccommitteewill now analyse the evidence before susubmittingts final findings to the Speaker. Public attention remains fixed on the North West provincial government as the region awaits the outcome of the investigation.
