‘Missing in action’
The representative for the African Independent Congress (AIC), Abel Kiwit, has been absent from three consecutive George Council meetings, two without offering an excuse.
Speaker Gerrit Pretorius asked about his whereabouts in Council on Tuesday, saying all attempts have been made to make contact with Kiwit, but to no avail. Pretorius said, "He is missing in action." The George Herald was also unable to reach the councillor. Other councillors confirmed that they haven't seen him "for a very long time".
A decision was taken at the council meeting in August to launch an investigation into alleged misconduct by Kiwit, through a special committee of Council. Kiwit has pawned his laptop, which is issued to councillors, on two different occasions. After the first time, he bought it back. The second time the computer ended up on the shelves of the pawn shop and was bought by a member of the public in February 2017.
Months later, Kiwit filed a case of theft at the Conville Police Station, claiming that the computer was stolen. A complaint of perjury was opened against Kiwit. Col AB Kriga, station commander of Conville Police, confirmed in September that the investigation was still ongoing, with no new information available. The George Herald is currently awaiting new feedback from the police.
Kiwit said earlier to the
George Herald that he had been very negligent. "I'm not proud of my actions at all, I did not set a good example," he said.