A senior municipal official who was dismissed from Drakenstein Municipality following a disciplinary hearing has been appointed as acting municipal manager at Beaufort West Municipality.
Gerald Esau, the former executive director for community services at Drakenstein Municipality, was fired on 13 August 2024 after being found guilty on four charges during a disciplinary hearing. Three of the charges related to allegations that he conspired to have the municipal manager removed from office.
Despite his dismissal, Beaufort West Municipality has welcomed Esau as its acting municipal manager, with the municipality describing him as bringing over 26 years of local government experience with a strong background in public safety, governance and service delivery.
The appointment has raised questions about vetting processes for senior municipal positions, particularly given the nature of the charges that led to Esau’s dismissal from Drakenstein.
According to the outcome document from Esau’s disciplinary hearing, which took place on 20 and 29 July 2024, he faced four separate charges. The first charge stemmed from allegations that he arrived drunk at a social event for municipal officials in George.
Seraj Johaar, Drakenstein Municipality’s executive director for corporate affairs and planning, said at the time that Esau’s alleged drunkenness “brought the municipality’s name into disrepute”.
Three additional charges followed, in which Esau was accused of working with other Drakenstein employees to try to remove Dr Johan Leibbrandt, the municipal manager, from his position.
According to the hearing document, Esau allegedly tried to influence an opposition councillor during a telephone conversation in November 2023 to have Leibbrandt removed. Esau allegedly asked that the councillor and his party approach the provincial MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs not to extend Leibbrandt’s term due to his age.
In the other two charges, Esau was accused of discussing allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual acts allegedly committed by the municipal manager with municipal workers, thereby bringing the municipal manager’s name into disrepute. The hearing revealed that Esau allegedly had his eye on the municipal manager’s position.
Esau pleaded not guilty to all four alleged transgressions.
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Regarding the George incident, he denied being drunk during the municipal work session. “According to him, he used the occasion to relax. He simply enjoyed the music and sang and danced loudly. He described himself as charismatic,” the hearing document stated.
Esau further stated during the hearing that if the alleged conversations about the municipal manager with other municipal workers had taken place, he would have contravened the municipal code of conduct, something he would not make himself guilty of.
The disciplinary hearing, however, found Esau guilty on all charges. He was represented by law firm Shrives Incorporated, while Webber Wentzel Attorneys represented the municipality.
Following his dismissal, Esau told reporters that there were no grounds for the allegations and that he had already consulted with his legal representative to appeal the decision. Under municipal legislation, he has the right to appeal the findings.
Esau, who started his new position at Beaufort West Municipality on 1 April, told NovaNews this week that he is still involved in a legal wrangle with Drakenstein Municipality as he feels that he was unfairly dismissed. He said that due to the legal proceedings he could not divulge further details on this matter.
Beaufort West Municipality stated that Esau is focused on strengthening municipal performance, improving accountability and delivering services that meet the needs of the community.
