Lesedi Municipality Probes Sexual Harassment Allegations
The Lesedi Local Municipality has acknowledged serious allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power against its accounting officer, Mr. Sibusiso Dhlamini.
The claims, made by a municipal employee, were formally received by the Executive Mayor’s office, prompting the municipality to take urgent action.
According to an official statement, the Lesedi Local Municipality Council convened a meeting on 18 February 2025 to address the allegations. During this meeting, a resolution was passed to appoint an independent external investigator to assess the validity of the claims.
By 25 February 2025, the municipality had officially assigned the investigator, who has been given 30 days to conduct a thorough inquiry and compile a report for presentation to the council.
In a follow-up statement from the Office of the Executive Mayor, the municipality emphasized the gravity of the accusations and reiterated its commitment to ensuring a fair and just resolution. “We acknowledge the urgency of the matter and understand the need for a prompt response. However, due diligence must be taken to ensure a just outcome,” the statement read.
The municipality stressed that while it takes all allegations of workplace misconduct seriously, it cannot provide further comment until the independent investigation is concluded. “The lack of response should not be construed as dismissive but rather as allowing due diligence to be taken,” the statement added.
Residents and stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, awaiting the findings of the investigation, which will determine the next course of action by Lesedi municipality.
