DA threatens steps over ‘illegal’ muni jobs
KNYSNA - The Knysna Municipality has been threatened with legal action for filling six new posts that opposition political groups in the town see as cadre deployment. Despite the municipality claiming otherwise, both the DA and KIM (Knysna Independent Movement) are adamant that the appointments are illegal and the DA says it will now approach the courts "for immediate relief", according to a statement from Dr Dion George, DA shadow minister of finance and political head for Knysna, earlier this week.
In the statement George said that 34 days ago, the ANC/PA/EFF/PBI "coalition of corruption" ousted the DAled government in Knysna. "True to form, their first priority is to deploy their political cronies to the council with generous pay packets funded by Knysna ratepayers."
He said that the six political appointments were made without any due process, at an unbudgeted cost of R3m per year.
"Squandering this money on cronies means that temporary and casual staff vacancies aimed at employing currently unemployed youth, in particular during the high season, will remain unfilled."
'Standard political appointments'
One of the new appointees is former PA Councillor in Bitou, Michele Botha, who has been appointed chief of staff in the office of new Knysna mayor, ANC councillor Aubrey Tsengwa. She confirmed on Tuesday that she started her new job on 1 October and that she resigned from the Bitou Council on 30 September. Her post in Bitou, secured on a proportional representation ticket, will be filled by Tiphany Harmse from Nelson Mandela Bay.
She said the appointments were "standard political appointments" made in every municipality and there is "nothing illegal about them". Tsengwa said in a statement he would like to "assure the public of Knysna that due process has indeed been followed" in the appointment of the political office bearers in the mayor's, deputy mayor's and speaker's offices. Reacting to George's statement on 4 October and the municipality's media release on 22 September, Tsengwa said, "The political office bearer positions that have been duly filled, for a six-month period, are standard political appointments which similarly can be found in neighbouring municipalities, as well as in others across the country.
"[Capacitating] these offices ensures that the commitment made to improve service delivery and development will be carried through for the benefit of all residents in the Greater Knysna area."
Legal action
Dion George said in an interview with KPH on Tuesday that the DA had forwarded information on the appointments to its lawyers and that court action is on the cards. He said due process was not followed and the posts were not advertised. The R3m salary bill that is involved, is money the municipality does not have. "This will not help the process of service delivery to the town."
At the same time, KIM issued a statement to the effect that the unlawful appointment of six political cadres "is but one of many unlawful decisions bulldozed through" by the new governing coalition.
"There is always a political process and as the official opposition we approached Acting Municipal Manager Johannes Jonkers to indicate that the appointments were illegal and that the process should be stopped," the statement reads. "We understand contracts have already been signed, and if that is so, we will approach the courts."
The party welcomed the DA's action to put a stop to what it called "the impunity that currently reigns in Knysna". ''Without KIM, its coalition partner, the DA never would have been in power at all this year."
Susan Campbell of KIM said the appointments were "illegal from the word go" and that the validity of the appointments would not stand up in a court of law as they do not form part of the municipality's approved organogram. She also said the positions were not advertised and, even if they are temporary positions, advertising them is still a requirement. "Instead of supporting the most vulnerable people of Knysna, they pay their friends to loot our town. A vote for a small party, is a vote for this," said George.