ACCUSED: Leach Tlhomelang

The Chairperson and the Council Secretary of the Southern District Council are said to have come close to blows over Council property as relationship between the two strains.

The two Council bosses, Leach Tlhomelang who is a political boss and Bick Kalantle, the administration boss, are said to have caused a scene at the Council building recently when Tlhomelang locked Kalantle in his office for hours following a verbal fight.

According to sources, conflict started soon after a recent full Council meeting when Tlhomelang called Kalantle, the deputy Council Secretary and the deputy Council chairperson to his office.

It is alleged that the debate over how Kalantle was undermining Tlhomelang ensued and Tlhomelang started insulting Kalantle. It is further alleged that Kalantle reiterated by insulting him back.

“When the quarrel was over, all the three stood up and walked out. As Kalantle was about to step outside the door, Tlhomelang sneaked behind him, grabbed him and pushed him back inside, banged the door and locked it,” a shocked Councillor who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed.

He said a few minutes after a heated quarrel between the two, Tlhomelang walked out and locked Kalantle inside.

Tlhomelang only opened the door a while later following pleas from other officials to set Kalantle free.

So shocked was Kalantle that he was allegedly granted a sick leave.

Although Tlhomelang and Kalantle declined to comment on the matter, neither one of them denied it happened.

“There is nothing I can say about the issue until I have met with my seniors, “Kalantle pointed out.

On the other hand Tlhomelang said he would not comment on the matter all together.

Other sources close to the matter said the two have been at loggerheads for a long time over the use of Council resources.

“They have always differed on the use of Council property. The Council secretary refuses to authorize abuse of Council property by the Chairperson because he is an accountable officer,” said a close source to the Secretary.

The source revealed that most of the conflict is centered on the use of the council vehicle by the chairperson.

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