ANC questions resignation of another legislature registrar

EIGHT months after the legislature controversially appointed lawyer Shawn Willemse as its new registrar for members’ interests, at more than R40 000 a month, he resigned.

Last Friday saw Willemse tendering his resignation, but it remains unclear why.

According to sources he was asked to stay on until the end of this week.

Legislature speaker Sharna Fernandez did not respond to text messages.

ANC provincial opposition leader Khaya Magaxa said this was the second registrar of members’ interests to resign within a year in the legislature.

“Willemse just jumped ship following a robust period engaging with the conduct committee and without getting to very important issues such as the serious allegations against DA MECs Bonginkosi Madikizela and his partner Nomafrench Mbombo, after lavish birthday bashes in posh Cape Town hotels without declaring anything of this hospitality and benefits, as is required by law,” Magaxa said.

Willemse, together with the committee, was asked to probe the birthday party thrown for Madikizela, who is also Human Settlements MEC and DA provincial leader, and whether his acceptance of a R3 000 birthday cake, which he failed to declare, breached ethical guidelines.

“It is understood that the independent registrar Willemse vacated this important position shortly after a period of induction and finding his feet, since he was appointed at the end of last year,” he said.

In November Willemse succeeded Romeo Maasdorp, who acted in the place of Rashieda Begg who suddenly left the employ of the legislature after many years.

Maasdorp also summarily resigned once his position was advertised as vacant by the legislature in August 2017 without his knowledge.

Uys, however, said the legislature did not follow proper process. “At that time the ANC demanded the DA stop political interference in and destabilisation of the Western Cape Legislature’s conduct committee as a number of key resignations followed undue political pressure, manipulation and meddling. The departure of Maasdorp followed shortly after DA MPL Lennit Max was also replaced as chairperson of the legislature’s conduct committee together with other DA members.

“Before Max, Denis Joseph was also removed as chairperson from the committee when the DA could not get its way with him,” Uys said.

Mark Wiley, DA chief whip, said he was not aware of the registrar’s resignation.