Councillor Palmer resigns in surprise move
CITY of uMhlathuze Councillor Erwin Palmer challenges all public representatives deployed in various spheres of government to always respect the law.
He made the statement following his sudden resignation last week as Ward 9 councillor, which incorporates Dumisani Makhaye Village, Grantham Park, Kildare and Tanner Road.
Palmer said though his resignation was unexpected, it was necessary.
‘I was called in by the ANC Chief Whip, Cllr Manie Lourens, after he received a letter from the Department of Health, in which Regulation 13 (c ) of the Public Service Act was brought to his attention.
‘This regulation deals with the issue of doing business with the state while being employed by
the state, and referred specifically to me.
‘This regulation came out in 2017, long after I had become a councillor, but it nevertheless came as a surprise to me and Councillor Lourens.
‘I then consulted with my attorneys, who confirmed that the regulation did indeed apply to me.
‘I then decided to resign with immediate effect. I was, however, shocked by this regulation since I had my business since
2007 and only became a councillor in
2011.
‘I also contested the elections in
2016 and became a ward councillor again. I always declared my business interests to the municipality and it was never contested.
‘I would have expected Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to have brought this to our attention and inform everyone about all the criteria of becoming a councillor. ‘This in my view would have avoided unnecessary by-elections, which must now happen within three months. ‘I hope my resignation encourages all other politicians to follow suit when the law requires them to do so. As a businessman and church pastor of Palm of Hope Ministries, my integrity is important to me.’ Palmer said he was not leaving as a bitter man, even though he is not sure if he was the only councillor targeted.
Reacting to Palmer’s resignation, ANC Musa Dladla Regional Secretary, Tholinhlanhla Gwala, said his party was saddened to lose a man of Palmer’s calibre.
‘He was effective as a councillor and was at the centre of delivering services to the people.
‘After giving us his explanation, we had no option but to respect and accept his decision to step down.
‘We thank him for his services. We thank him for changing the lives of the people of Ward 9, especially the disabled.
‘This now leaves us with a by-election headache and byelections by their very nature are costly exercises,’ said Gwala.