Social media were abuzz over a visit to the Theewaterskloof Municipality office in Caledon on Wednesday (19 November) by officers of the Directorate for Serious Priority Crimes, or the Hawks. In response, the Municipality said: “The matter does not involve Theewaterskloof Municipality and we therefore cannot comment.”
Hawks spokesperson Lt Col Siyabulela Vukubi confirmed officers attached to the Hawks’ George-based Commercial Crime Investigation Unit visited the municipal office on Wednesday 19 November to serve a summons to attend a court hearing concerning a 64-year-old man currently employed by the TWK Municipality.
The summons relates to an alleged contravention of the Municipal Financial Management Act and Municipal Systems Act.
“It is reported that between November 2021 and January 2022 the suspect was employed as Municipal Manager of the Oudtshoorn Municipality,” Vukubi related, “where he acted in a gross and negligent manner by failing to manage the financial administration of the municipality.
“An investigation revealed he had failed to take reasonable steps to ensure irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure and/or losses were prevented.”
According to Vukubi the accused will appear in the Oudtshoorn Regional Court on 12 December.
The accused was asked in 2022 to give reasons why he should not be suspended.
He was dismissed after 13 councillors had tabled a successful urgent motion to remove him from his post. In 2024 the accused was also suspended at a council meeting.
Despite all this the TWK appointed the accused on 29 May this year. Opposition parties agreed they did not agree to the official’s appointment.
“From the beginning his appointment was controversial, but the municipality still believed he was the best candidate,” a member of the opposition party said.
For the ratepayers this was just another proof of an ineffectual municipal council that looked after their own interests only.
“The municipality has never looked after its taxpayers,” one resident said, “on the contrary, we have to fight for our rights while they empty the coffers. Corruption is the order of the day and as long as there are corrupt officials in management positions TWK will always remain under administration.”
Comments on Facebook bear ratepayers’ dissatisfaction with the municipality out. “Everyone is corrupt,” one user said. According to another resident it must make space for younger people to be in manager positions.
“There are young capable people who don’t just want to save for their pensions, but would like to serve ratepayers’ interests, which they have at heart. They should be given a chance.”
The question on everyone’s lips is why TWK had made the appointment, knowing the investigation against the suspect was pending.
The official could not be named until he appeared in court.
