Opposition rejoice as fraud-accused municipal manager Kenned’s contract not renewed

OPPOSITION parties have claimed victory after Matzikama Municipality fraud and corruption-accused acting municipal manager Ian Kenned’s contract was not renewed.

The municipality’s newly-appointed municipal manager, Lionel Phillips said yesterday mayor Mathilda Bains took a decision not to renew Kenned’s contract.

“He was appointed on a month to month basis for a period of three months, which expires in May 2021,” Phillips said.

In the absence of a municipal manager, Bains took a decision supported by her mayoral committee to appoint Phillips, the director of economic and community development service, in the position, the municipality said.

In a statement yesterday, Good party’s Sammy Claassen said they condemned and rejected Kenned’s appointment from the onset.

“The corrupt accused acting municipal manager of Matzikama Municipality left quietly.

“He faced 26 counts of corruption, money laundering and fraud in the Clanwilliam Court yet he was still appointed by the ANC in Matzikama Municipality.

“We started an immediate campaign against the ANC Matzikama Municipality and called on ANC councillors to account for such a reckless decision,” Claassen said.

Kenned accused the party of trying to score cheap political points by “rehashing known facts that have been in the public domain”.

ANC Western Cape convenor, Lerumo Kalako said: “We are not worried about his (Claassen’s) utterances as an individual. All we know about the allegations (against Kenned) is that they were struck off the roll.”

Meanwhile, the DA in Kannaland welcomed the sentencing of Independent Civic Organisation of

South Africa (Icosa) speaker in Kannaland, Werner Meshoa this week.

Meshoa was sentenced to a fine of R6 000 or 18 months imprisonment for fraud plus four years imprisonment, suspended for five years and 36 months house arrest for defeating the ends of justice.

Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said the Hawks’ serious commercial crimes investigation team in George found that Meshoe defrauded the municipality by submitting a fraudulent subsistence claim amounting to just over R4 000, stating that he attended a meeting in Cape Town from October, 19 to 21, 2016.

“With the intent to defeat the course of justice, he further submitted fraudulent information to the then speaker of the same municipality whom was investigating the matter against him by deceitfully submitting a letter trying to cover up his action by convincing a friend to depose false sworn affidavits confirming that his vehicle had broken down during the days he was supposed to have attended the said meeting,” Hani said.

DA constituency head in Kannaland, Gillion Bosman said they were pleased that Kannaland residents can see some movement “on the sentencing of corrupt Icosa politicians”.

Icosa president Jeffrey Donson said they noted Meshoa’s sentencing.