He attended the launch of the DA’s Joint Mayoral Candidate for the Cape Winelands and Breede Valley in his personal capacity as a friend.
David McThomas, Municipal Manager for Breede Valley Municipality (BVM) was responding to a statement issued by the ANC in the Breede Valley Council in which the party expressed its concern over Thomas who attended a DA political event on Friday (26 June) in the Worcester Town Hall.
In its statement the ANC says: “This active participation by the head of the municipal administration is a flagrant disregard for the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Act, which strictly prohibits senior municipal officials from engaging in political party activities or compromising the neutrality of their office.
“By inviting and hosting permanent administrative officials at a partisan campaign event, the DA has demonstrated a complete disregard for legislative boundaries and municipal systems.
“The role of the Municipal Manager is to serve as an objective accounting officer responsible for equitable service delivery to all residents of the Breede Valley, regardless of their political affiliation.”
“This clear conflict of interest proves that the administrative leadership is focusing on political alignment rather than community needs.”
The ANC called for an immediate explanation from McThomas regarding his presence at a partisan political launch, a formal investigation by the Breede Valley Municipal Council into this clear breach of the Code of Conduct for Municipal Staff Members and intervention by the Western Cape MEC for Local Government (Anton Bredell) to ensure accountability and to protect the integrity of local administration from political interference.
In response to an enquiry sent by Standard Breederivier Gazette, McThomas said: “I confirm that my attendance did not constitute support for any political activity; rather, I attended solely in response to an invitation extended to me in my personal capacity as a friend.
“Furthermore, I did not participate in any political activity during the candidate unveiling.”
