Renosterberg municipal manager’s suspension rescinded

THE SUSPENSION of the Renosterberg municipal manager was rescinded during a special council meeting convened on Wednesday.

According to several Renosterberg councillors Matt Posthumus, Johannes Nicklaas, Hendrik Booysen and Monique Bekkers the council failed to comply with the prescribed disciplinary procedures before suspending the municipal manager.

“The municipal manager was not given an opportunity to make representations to council. Therefore the decision taken on May 20 was rescinded and the municipal manager was instructed to return to the office with immediate effect.

“Although attempts were made to frustrate the meeting, the majority of councillors were unanimous in their decision to rescind the resolution.”

Posthumus stated that all relevant legislation and procedures were followed during the special council meeting.

“It is specifically noted that this decision to rescind an unprocedural former decision was precipitated by the threat of legal action at enormous expense to council. The Speaker elected to ignore two deadlines in avoiding legal action and tried to frustrate the meeting that was convened to prevent further irregular expenditure.”

Posthumus believed that the response of the Northern Cape Department of the Cooperative

Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) to media enquiries regarding the suspension of the municipal manager was “most disturbing”.

“The MEC for Coghsta, Bentley Vass, was quoted in the media that he ‘would allow disciplinary processes to unfold’. The disciplinary process is the fruit of an illegal decision, and cannot be condoned or tolerated.

“It is remarkable that a meeting, scheduled for 10am today (Wednesday), to discuss increased salaries was enthusiastically attended by councillors. However, a council meeting called to prevent enormous expense to council took place two hours later than scheduled and could not be accommodated by the Speaker and two other councillors.”

The councillors said they had filed for a motion of no confidence to be brought against the Speaker.

“The Speaker is obliged to schedule this meeting, where the motion to replace him will be considered.”