Newly appointed Thulamela municipal manager Mr Muthotho Thomas Sigidi. Photo supplied.
A vastly experienced administrator, Muthotho Thomas Sigidi, has been appointed as the new municipal manager of the Thulamela Municipality. He took over the reins on 5 January this year.
Looking at Sigidi’s history, it appears his career has come full circle. When his term as municipal manager of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM) ended in 2010, he was replaced by Masala Makumule. This time around, after Makumule left the Thulamela municipal manager’s post in August 2025, Sigidi replaced him.
Thulamela Municipality spokesperson Ndwamato Tshiila confirmed the appointment. “Sigidi comes with a wealth of local government experience, and he is already hard at work doing his responsibilities as municipal manager,” he said.
Sigidi is the third municipal manager to be appointed by the municipality in recent years. Hlengani Maluleke, who held the fort after the departure of Makonde Mathivha, was shown the door after being suspended in February 2022. He was later arrested by the Hawks in connection with his approval of a R30 million investment in the ill-fated VBS Mutual Bank. While court cases continued, Maluleke was removed from his role as municipal manager.
His successor, Masala Makumule, had a short-lived tenure and was suspended two years into the job. Two months after his suspension, Makumule resigned on Tuesday, 12 August 2025. He was due to appear before the municipality’s disciplinary committee, facing allegations of failing to curb unauthorised expenditure and of not implementing strict procurement policies.
Sigidi’s appointment was met with mixed reactions from the public, with some labelling him an ANC deployee who would serve no different purpose than his predecessors at the municipality. Others gave him the benefit of the doubt, opting for a wait-and-see approach.
Outspoken Thulamela councillor Khakhathi Tshisikule of the Independent Revelation Congress said his organisation had no objection if the appointment was done procedurally and according to the book.
“What is denying the residents of Thulamela service delivery is cadre deployment. If we can do away with it and appoint people based on merit and qualifications, we could soon see a turnaround at this municipality. We have no problem with Sigidi’s appointment as long as he is qualified for the position and is ready to serve residents of Thulamela,” he said.
Sigidi began his career as a mathematics and science teacher at Mbilwi High School in Venda. He later lectured in electrical engineering and acted as head of the technical department before leaving teaching in 1998.
His subsequent career included various government positions. He was appointed regional manager and later director for institutional development at the Government Communication and Information System. Other roles included serving as general manager in the Department of Provincial and Local Government and as municipal manager of the Vhembe District Municipality from 2007 to 2010.