Bredell told to leave Wesso well alone
The George Municipality Director of Civil Engineering Services, Reggie Wesso, will continue to lead the city's civil infrastructure team, in spite of an earlier letter from Western Cape MEC of Local Government, Anton Bredell, informing the municipality that Wesso's appointment was invalid due to the lack of expertise of the selection panel.
Bredell's spokesperson, James-Brent Styan, told George Herald this week that based on a legal opinion the department received from senior counsel, it was decided that legal proceedings regarding Wesso's appointment would be unwarranted.
Styan did not expand on what the legal opinion entailed.
Bredell's letter, sent to the municipality in April, stated: "The selection panel who appointed him [Wesso] did not have the expertise or experience in the area of the advertised post as required... The implication is that, should Mr Wesso not be amenable to voluntarily vacating the position, the alternative would be to approach the High Court to set aside the appointment."
At the time Bredell said that although Wesso meets the prescribed higher education qualifications and years of experience, the composition of the selection panel did not comply with the regulations applicable to the appointment of senior managers. Therefore, Wesso's appointment was invalid.
The George Herald reported on 19 April this year that the Wesso saga started when local municipal watchdog George First Forum wrote to Bredell in September last year, asking that Wesso's appointment be rejected and re-advertised.
Their main concern was that the selection panel did not feature an independent civil engineering specialist to assist with Wesso's appointment.
In terms of the regulations, at least three, and not more than five, people must serve on the panel: the municipal manager; a member of the mayoral committee or councillor who is the head of the relevant portfolio; and at least one other person who has expertise or experience in the area of the advertised post. This person may not be a municipal staff member or councillor.
In response to a request for comment, the municipality stated: "This [Wesso's appointment] has been resolved."
The municipality ignored a request for comment from Wesso and George municipal officials are not allowed to speak directly to the media.
George First Forum spokesperson
Koos Sieberhagen told George Herald that Bredell's response is unsatisfactory. "It is of great concern that crucial municipal appointments can be made by interviewers without the necessary knowledge or expertise.
“Of equal concern is the fact that the minister who heads up that sphere of government, seems powerless to act."
Two of the three vacant departmental director positions were again advertised in the business section of the Sunday Times this past weekend.
Director vacancies
Two of the three vacant departmental director positions - Planning and Development and Electrotechnical - were again advertised in the business section of the Sunday Times this past weekend.
The positions were also advertised in June, but according to the latest advertisements these are the "second call to widen the pool of candidates".
Those interested to dive into the pool do not have a lot of time, as applications close this coming Monday, 13 August, but the municipality is giving itself two months to decide on a shortlist.
Wesso was appointed in October last year.
In response to a query as to why the filling of the three vacancies is taking so long as well as the general status quo, the municipality responded: "The vacant directors' posts are advertised and the recruitment process will take its course."
Where or when the position of Director of Corporate Services was advertised is unknown. The current acting director is Simphiwe James.