Theewaterskloof Municipality’s (TWK) municipal manager, Walter Hendricks, is set to appear in court following an alleged racial slur during a meeting with municipal director.

Hendricks is expected to appear in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court today (15 September). This is after an alleged crimen injuria complaint was laid against him for using the p-word and n-word during a meeting with TWK Wilfred Solomons-Johannes.

Hendricks has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, Solomons-Johannes was suspended during an internal meeting for allegedly using the k-word.

The municipality confirmed the suspension in response to questions from Hermanus Times, but did not provide further details on what led to it.

“The municipality can confirm that Solomons-Johannes was suspended on Wednesday 9 September during a confidential in-committee special council meeting,” the municipality said. “The administration can therefore not comment on details surrounding the suspension or decisions made.”

According to reports, Solomons-Johannes was suspended following an earlier incident in which he allegedly directed the k-word at director Paul Mabhena and referred to him as a “boy”.

Mabhena allegedly confronted Solomons-Johannes following the exchange. Reports further alleged that an independent investigator found grounds for Solomons-Johannes to face disciplinary proceedings over the alleged use of the word “boy”.

TWK did not comment on the allegations or findings, citing the confidential nature of the council proceedings.

The municipality also said it would not become involved in disputes between individuals.

“The municipality respects the court processes and will not get involved in disputes between individuals,” it said.“Any matters raised internally will be dealt with by the municipality.”

A municipality under pressure

The latest dispute comes as TWK continues to grapple with a series of financial and governance problems.

In July, Hermanus Times reported that TWK was among Western Cape municipalities experiencing severe financial distress. This is after receiving a qualified audit opinion for the 2024-’25 financial year.

The report noted that TWK had been placed under a Section 139(5) financial intervention following a sharp deterioration in its financial position. Revenue collection had fallen substantially, while concerns were raised about the municipality’s ability to remain financially sustainable.

The municipality’s financial problems have also resulted in intervention from National Treasury.

A July report by Hermanus Times noted that TWK was among municipalities whose equitable-share allocations were temporarily withheld because of serious non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act.

The report also detailed a Labour Court ruling involving TWK’s head of finance, Paul Mabhena, concerning his precautionary suspension.

SIU investigation into generators

More recently, the municipality came under national scrutiny after President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised a Special Investigating Unit investigation into the procurement of 14 backup generators. The generators were allegedly for boreholes and water pump stations in the TWK municipal area.

The investigation is probing allegations including serious maladministration, corruption, irregular expenditure and the unlawful or improper loss of public funds.

The SIU has been authorised to investigate conduct involving municipal officials, employees, service providers and other parties between October 2022 and August 2026.

Service delivery and water concerns

TWK has also faced continued criticism over basic service delivery, particularly water, sewerage and refuse collection. In August, Hermanus Times reported on water-security concerns in Villiersdorp, including vandalism affecting the local water supply and increasing pressure on existing water resources.

The municipality has acknowledged broader challenges around ageing infrastructure, population growth and the sustainability of its water resources.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Government has acknowledged concerns around governance, service delivery and water security in TWK.

The province says the municipality is implementing a Financial Recovery Plan. Furthermore, additional provincial support is being provided to strengthen institutional capacity, management systems and long-term service delivery planning.

The outcome of the various investigations and disciplinary processes could therefore have significant implications for an institution already under intense scrutiny.