Opposition outrage as DA council suspends Botha

OPPOSITION parties in Mossel Bay Municipality have reacted with fury at the DA-led council’s decision to merely suspend convicted fraudster and money launderer Marius Botha, the municipality’s chief financial officer.

The parties say taxpayers will pay a double salary for one post as the municipality appointed an acting chief financial officer while continuing to pay the disgraced Botha’s full salary, which they believed was nearly R100 000 a month.

The ANC and Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa) want Botha fired following his conviction for fraud and money laundering.

He and his co-accused Louis Nothnagel, who was the municipal manager at Karoo Hoogland Municipality, and bogus company owner Ockert Tobias Cloete, were found guilty on nine charges of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.

The accused each paid R10 000 to extend their bail, according to the Hawks.

The municipality was aware of the charges against Botha when it employed him. It said it had resolved to place Botha on “precautionary suspension” during its special council sitting on Tuesday pending an internal investigation.

It says a report by the investigator on Botha’s alleged misconduct was awaited and would determine the future actions to be taken.

But ANC chief whip in Mossel Bay, Jovan Bruinders, said: “Our position is clear. Botha’s contract must be terminated because we cannot allow the taxpayers to pay double for one post because someone will take over from him.

“What we have also picked up is that the council of 2014 failed to discipline him. The allegation was always there.

“He himself said should he be found guilty of these charges, his service contract should be terminated.”

Icosa provincial leader Dawid Kamfer said: “It was a shocking decision by the DA. They always talk about corruption in other parties.”