Judge lambasts municipal boss for seeking to overturn suspension

A MAN who chalked up the first convictions under the Municipal Finance Management Act has now boggled a judge’s mind.

Labour court judge Edwin Tlhotlhalemaje said Martin Pietersen’s attempt to prevent an Eastern Cape municipality suspending him, pending sentencing and possible appeals, was a product of “self-righteousness and narcissistic instincts”.

He added: “The nature of this (application) is mind-boggling. Whether that appeal process takes a lifetime or not is irrelevant as far as [Pietersen] is concerned, as his ‘right’ to the position and the salary trumps everything else, including the clean and smooth administration of the municipality”.

But Pietersen said he would challenge Tlhotlhalemaje’s denial of his application and was confident he would come out on top.

“Municipal managers are in the firing line because there is a perception that there is corruption in the municipalities. I’m not saying that there is not corruption, but you shouldn’t generalise.”

Pietersen also maintained he was not found guilty of corruption or fraud, and said he would “prove” to the court that he is not guilty.

Pietersen was appointed as municipal manager in September 2015 after the Camdeboo municipality, where he was manager, merged with two others to form the new Dr Beyers Naude municipality.

In December, he was found guilty by the Oudtshoorn Magistrates Court on five criminal charges relating to the abuse of R2-million under the Municipal Finance Management Act.

He is on suspension with full pay. Sentencing is expected next month.

Tlhotlhalemaje said it was “remarkable” that Pietersen had managed to be ushered in as the municipal manager of the newly formed municipality. Tlhotlhalemaje also expressed the court’s feelings towards “well- heeled civil servants” trying to use the court to “intervene in internal disciplinary proceedings against them”.

“It is apparent that in most of these cases, the intention of the applicants is merely to circumvent the dispute resolution procedures or to seek reinstatement in their positions, even when their presence in the workplace had turned out or proved to be untenable,” he said. — TMG