MOSSEL BAY MUNICIPAL MANAGER FACES AXE
SUSPENDED Mossel Bay municipal manager Thys Giliomee has remained tight-lipped ahead of a disciplinary hearing over sexual harassment and misconduct allegations.
He is accused of sexual harassment and commission of a sexual act against a subordinate, the municipality recently acknowledged, after initially denying the probe.
In a statement on Friday, the municipality – at a special council meeting earlier that day – said that the full council decided that Giliomee be suspended with full payment as per prescribed legislation “until the finding and sanction from the presiding officer in the matter is communicated to the municipality, after completion of the disciplinary proceedings’.
“A further press release will follow the completion of the disciplinary proceedings, as soon as the council has received the outcome from the presiding officer,” the municipality said.
Giliomee had been given until Thursday to make representations as to why he should not be suspended.
He declined to comment on the matter yesterday, but municipal spokesperson Nicky le Roux said the presiding officer in the disciplinary matter had three months to conclude the case and present his findings to council.
No criminal charge has been laid against Giliomee, she said.
“As this is an internal disciplinary matter, no criminal charges were brought,” said Le Roux.
The municipality is under DA administration. The party did not respond to questions by the time of publication.
Independent Civic Organisation of SA (Icosa) provincial leader Dawid Kamfer said, when raising concerns around the matter against Giliomee, he was accused of being in contravention of the municipal code of conduct, after arguing for the transparency of the municipality and saying that taxpayers had the right to know.
Welcoming the suspension, ANC Mossel Bay constituency head Cameron Dugmore said this was was the “second major sex scandal” to rock the DA.
“I think it is correct that he be placed on suspension.
“The initial investigation found prima facie evidence of serious misconduct. Our ANC councillors, who are in the opposition, also pushed for the suspension,” he said.
Dugmore said the move to place Giliomee on suspension was in stark contrast to the DA provincial government, which had yet to act against one of
seniors in the traffic management, formally charged with sexual harassment and committing a sexual act.
“In all of this, we must support the victims and ensure that justice is done, and that they be given the necessary support,” said Dugmore.
Provincial member of the legislature for the Good Party Brett Herron said that while they welcomed the suspension, this was the bare minimum standard of intervention expected, when allegations of sexual assault or harassment were being investigated.
“No victim of gender-based violence should be forced to work with their alleged perpetrator and a perpetrator in a position of authority. Remaining behind his desk sends the wrong signal about the power imbalance,” said Herron.