CFO suspended, MM in trouble
It is alleged that Botha interfered with the flow of information requested from municipal officials under his control.
The suspension of George Municipality's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) last week, and a letter from the Western Cape minister of local government, Anton Bredell, which could lead to the suspension of the municipal manager, are two hot topics of discussion in town.
CFO Keith Jordaan was suspended for 60 days on Friday last week, pending an investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
The decision was taken during a special council meeting, following a recommendation by the law firm Schröter & Associates who compiled a report on possible financial irregularities by Jordaan and a portfolio councillor.
The report refers to certain incidents and actions taken by Jordaan, with regards to an amount of R350-million invested on behalf of the municipality at a financial institution. The family relationship between the councillor and a broker who works for the institution is being questioned. To date no steps have been taken against the councillor.
Bredell's letter
Meanwhile, a letter from Bredell to Mayor Melvin Naik was set to be circulated at yesterday's first ordinary council meeting since the July recess. The item was confidential and not open to the public or media.
The letter was sent via e-mail to both Naik and Speaker Gerrit Pretorius. Bredell writes that the Provincial Forensic Services unit and the department of Premier Helen Zille have provided his office with information concerning allegations of serious misconduct by Municipal Manager Trevor Botha.
It is alleged that Botha interfered with the flow of information requested from municipal officials under his control.
The information had to be collected by Jordaan and provided to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), for the purpose of a criminal investigation the DPCI is conducting in respect of the municipality.
It is further alleged that Botha manipulated the tender process followed for the
Nelson Mandela Boulevard upgrade in Thembalethu, to ensure the tender was awarded to a specific company.
Bredell urges Naik to "attend to the matters" and asks Council to consider Botha's suspension.
Neither Jordaan nor Botha wished to comment on the respective allegations against them. Botha's response to the CFO's suspension is that the municipality will not comment on internal matters. Bredell's office confirmed that a letter was sent to Naik.
At the time of going to press the council meeting was still in progress.
No feedback from mayor
At yesterday's council meeting Mayor Melvin Naik was criticised for not delivering a mayoral address. When Icosa councillor Wilbur Harris expressed his disappointment, Speaker Gerrit Pretorius said municipal law states that the mayor "may" deliver a speech, not "must".
Harris said in light of the recent taxi violence and various administrative and internal issues, councillors expected the mayor to say "something". "We haven't had a council meeting for a long time, and in the meantime the town has burned," he said. Pretorius told Harris if he wanted to know what is happening in town, he would personally deliver a copy of the next George Herald to him.
Harris responded that the town is not run by the George Herald, but that the paper merely reports on how the town is being run. Naik, defending his silence, said he was honouring a request by other councillors for a brief meeting.