Rustenburg Municipal Manager
In a bold move, Rustenburg Local Municipality’s manager, Advocate Ashmar Khuduge, has turned to the courts to stop a hearing into claims of serious wrongdoing. He wants the Mahikeng High Court to step in and halt the probe set for 23 September 2025. Khuduge says the special council meeting that kicked off the investigation broke the rules and was driven by politics. This comes after months of heat over money matters, with fingers pointed at him for poor handling of funds and dodgy deals.
The story has grabbed attention in North West, where locals are fed up with service woes like water cuts and bad roads. Khuduge’s bid to block the hearing shines a light on deeper issues in the municipality, which has faced audits flagging millions in wasteful spending. As the case heads to court, it could shake up how leaders are held to account in SA’s towns.
Urgent Court Bid Amid Growing Pressure
Khuduge filed papers at the Mahikeng High Court for an urgent interdict against the misconduct hearing. He argues the special council sitting that named an investigator went against regulations. The hearing, meant to start on 23 September 2025, looks into claims of financial mismanagement and irregular buys.  He calls it a political hit job, but critics say it’s time for answers.
This is not Khuduge’s first brush with trouble. Appointed in 2023, his role came under fire right away. Former councillor Ratanang Nke took the municipality to court in November 2023, saying Khuduge’s hiring was unlawful.  The case claimed shortcuts in the process, but it did not stop him from taking the job.
ActionSA Sparks the Fire with Criminal Charges
The heat turned up in July 2025 when ActionSA laid fraud and corruption charges against Khuduge at Rustenburg police station. The party, led by North West chief Sello Lehari, pointed to R335 million in irregular spending from the 2022/23 audit. They say this breaks the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), with Khuduge as the top accountant failing to stop it.
ActionSA councillors Ofentse Kombe and Thamzile Phanuel Nkaelang fronted the charges. They handed over proof from the Auditor-General’s report, showing unauthorised costs and supply chain slip-ups. Kombe said: “These are not small mistakes but clear financial misconduct that law enforcement must handle.”
The party also worries the council speaker is blocking talks on the matter. They plan to rope in the Public Protector to make sure nothing gets hidden. ActionSA boss Herman Mashaba joined the push, saying no party but theirs stands up to graft.
Claims of Dodgy Deals and Recruitment Tricks
Dig deeper, and the accusations pile up. Khuduge is said to have misused MFMA Section 114 for contracts longer than 36 months without following Section 33 rules. There’s talk of him skipping recruitment steps, like sending his office manager to interviews and picking a loyal supply chain boss. He allegedly dragged his feet on shortlisting, doing it two months late.
Another mess: A land scandal where Khuduge is accused of covering up an unauthorised deal. A junior official signed off on land and a service pact without okay from the top, leading to a possible R150 million lawsuit from the contractor. A whistleblower claimed Khuduge worked with the junior, but the official later owned up, clearing Khuduge. Still, the whistleblower said the junior was not suspended, raising brows.
Khuduge denies all wrongdoing. In one case, he called for a probe into the claims after getting a complaint.
Political Backlash and Calls for Change
The ANC in Rustenburg hit back, saying ActionSA is playing politics ahead of 2026 local polls. They call the charges baseless and aimed at hurting the municipality’s name without proof of crime or gain.
Mayor Sheila Mabale-Huma called the special sitting to tackle the misconduct claims. The South African Human Rights Commission also held a subpoena hearing against Rustenburg managers in July 2025, showing wider scrutiny.
ActionSA wants Khuduge probed and sacked, saying the council has failed to act. They vow to fight graft and fix Rustenburg’s woes.
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