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Brenda Khethiwe Moeketsi (born 29 August 1980) is a South African politician who currently serves as MEC for the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development from June 2024. She had served as speaker of council for the Dipaleseng Local Municipality from August 2016 until November 2021 when she was elected mayor of the same municipality.

Scandals

In March 2022, Moeketsi was implicated in an investigation report compiled by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government. The report probed bad governance, nepotism and corruption at the Dipaleseng Local Municipality and found that at least R53.8 million was irregularly paid to seven companies and that officials increased their salaries without following proper procedures. The money wasted in corruption in that municipality amounted to over R100-million in just less than a year. In August 2022, she was ordered by her party African National Congress to go lay corruption charges against those implicated in the report, which included herself, at the Balfour police station following a public outcry over delays in taking actions against corruption but up to date nobody was arrested.

News agency 013NEWS reported in March 2022 how a brand new Toyota Hilux Legend 50 bakkie was allegedly bought for Moeketsi by two tenderpreneurs implicated in the investigation report when she was still a speaker in October 2020. The tenderpreneurs bought the high-end bakkie for her after they were awarded a three-year security contract at the Dipaleseng municipality where Moeketsi was speaker. Opposition party Freedom Front Plus in their condemnation said it always raised suspicion when a service provider buys a car for a sitting speaker.

References

1. R100-million lost to corruption at a Mpumalanga municipality, City Press, 5 March 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024
2. Dipaleseng appoints new political leaders, Heidelberg Nigel Heraut, 29 November 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2024
3. Mpumalanga premier announces his executive council, Capricorn FM, 18 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024
4. Dipaleseng corruption reported to cops, 013NEWS, 5 September 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2024
5. ANC to investigate Dipaleseng municipality cover-ups, City Press, 7 March 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024
6. R100-million lost to corruption, City Press, 5 March 2022
7. Cars for contracts - probe uncovers alleged widespread corruption in Mpumalanga municipality, Daily Maverick. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2024

• Politicians from Mpumalanga
• Members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature
• African National Congress politicians
• 21st-century South African politicians
• Living people
• 1980 births