Municipal manager’s disclosures in spotlight

LOCAL Government MEC Anton Bredell is busy determining whether Laingsburg municipal manager Jafta Booysen had misrepresented his suitability for his job when he was interviewed in 2019.

“Booysen was during his job interview aware of the investigation reports conducted with the orders of the BWM and the Western Cape Government (WGC) and is herewith accused of not disclosing the information to the Laingsburg municipality,” said Bredell in correspondence to Lindi Potgieter, Speaker of Laingsburg municipality.

Findings against Booysen included tender corruption and not disclosing money, sponsors, and gifts he received from businessmen he illegally awarded tenders to. Potgieter and DA MP Deidré Baartman last month questioned Bredell over the allegations against Booysen following media reports.

While Potgieter wrote with urgency to Bredell’s office, Baartman had also raised the question via the legislature, in which Bredell responded to both in a letter dated March 3.

He warned that: “Should it be suspected Booysen did in fact misrepresent his suitability for appointment, thereby prejudicing the municipality, such misrepresentation was to be treated as misconduct and the provisions of the Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers, 2010, is to be followed in this respect.”

Bredell said his role in the assessment of the appointment of senior managers is governed by the regulations, and as required by regulation, the municipality had submitted a report on the recruitment and selection process leading up to Booysen’s appointment.

“This report included a screening report conducted in respect of all candidates shortlisted for the post. The screening report of Booysen reflects that he had not been dismissed from the employ of a municipality for any misconduct, which makes a candidate ineligible for an appointment at a municipality,” he said.

Bredell said the Laingsburg would have to rely on its own records to determine if Booysen, during his interview, had disclosed the findings of corruption against him and should determine if he had in any way misrepresented his suitability to be appointed during the recruitment and selection process, and if so, which legal provisions had been transgressed.

Responding in his capacity as municipal manager, Booysen said: “I am unaware of any letters sent by the municipality, the council, and to the honourable Minister Bredell.

“A letter was sent by our Speaker councillor Potgieter and it will be just proper to refer questions to the last mentioned, as the letter of the honourable minister was also addressed to the Speaker and not to the municipality or the council.”

Laingsburg mayor Ricardo Louw said the matter would be taken to council for consideration.