Council to appoint acting Sol officials

A SPECIAL council meeting will have to be held today to finalise the appointment of an acting Sol Plaatje municipal manager and an acting chief financial officer (CFO), after Goolam Akharwaray and Lydia Mahloko agreed to take special leave last week.

The provincial ANC meanwhile agreed yesterday to suspend the two senior Sol Plaatje officials.

Names that were rumoured to occupy these acting positions include Ruth Sebolecwe and Charles Ngoma for the position of acting municipal manager and Andries Klopper as acting CFO.

The Manager in the Office of the Mayor, George Mosimane, did not want to comment on the speculation yesterday.

“Council will first meet and finalise on names. It is only matters pertaining to procurement and matters that need to be signed off by the CFO and municipal manager that will have to wait until the acting posts are filled, otherwise services will continue as normal. We are in continuous interaction with the police and intelligence while we receive hourly briefings from other law enforcement agencies regarding the safety of the city. We are taking things as they come and urge people not to spread undue panic,” said Mosimane.

He added that their security and risk management team was still assessing the full extent of the damages to municipal property and a quote would have to be submitted for insurance purposes.

“Extensive damage has been caused to various properties, municipal buildings and private property. We are hoping to complete all assessments by Wednesday afternoon.”

Mosimane added that it was necessary to take out an interdict because of all the damage caused during the protest.

“The matter is not unchanged and will continue. The perpetrators can present their cases in court.”

According to the interdict, the protesters have been prohibited from entering any municipal buildings or parking lots situated in Kimberley, Ritchie or Modderrivier as well as from sabotaging the sewerage systems, waterworks and electricity supply.