Owners of businesses in the hospitality industry were hot under the collar after officials checked the documentation of foreign nationals employed by the businesses.
Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill confirmed rumours are being circulated that senior politicians from the Overstrand Municipality are responsible for unannounced compliance visits from the Departments of Home Affairs and Labour to local hospitality facilities.
“It was reported that during these visits the documentation of foreign nationals employed in these establishments was checked and a number of arrests were made of undocumented individuals,” he said. “It is true there was indeed a request to the Mayor by Operation Dudula to intervene and stop the employment of foreign nationals by local businesses. The response from the Mayor [Annelie Rabie] was clear; neither the municipality nor the Mayor had the authority to do so.”
According to O’Neill, Rabie further wished to state, unequivocally, that none of her executive councillors, including MMC Clinton Lerm and she herself, were in any way involved in these actions. “The Departments of Home Affairs and Labour are national government departments with specific functions and mandates that are independent from the municipality,” he pointed out.
The municipality has, once again, urged any member of the public or business fraternity to contact the Mayor’s office directly should they wish to enquire about any decision taken by her before they take to social media.
