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Deputy Mayor Jack – The Plot Thickens

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Earlier this month Deputy Mayor Khusta Jack was accused of ‘irregularly’ doing business with the Municipality after it had come to light that one of his businesses had been awarded an informal contract to repair/rehabilitate some fibre optics cable.

It is normal for the municipality supply chain unit to FLAG any business on the database should they have any director/owner that is a government employee – this is a cautionary to the staff wanting to appoint a contractor. That FLAGGING is presumably done after a Government Employee declares his/her business interest on the prescribed form.

In addition record is kept of whether the business in question has a current Tax Clearance and BEE Cerificate on hand.

The accusations seem to center around whether Jack declared his interests as per the Council Rules or not.

And, of course any municipal employee that does not recognise the name of our Deputy Mayor on a supplier database entry does need to be closely questioned.

This raises an interesting conundrum: Should Jack be cleared of not meaningfully ‘bending’ the rules then the person who awarded the contract to his company will need to come under the spotlight as they would have awarded the contract despite the supplier entry being FLAGGED. And, of course, if the Tax and BEE Certificates for Jack’s business were also not valid at the time then the awarding of the contract will be further mired in controversy and accusations of the system being manipulated for political gain or destruction.

Let the Games begin!

Here is Deputy Mayor Khusta Jack’s response to the allegations against him:

This matter was raised in a Council meeting by the ANC and has subsequently been picked up with vigour by the EFF.

Both parties would be expected to know and respect Council rules and regulations as spelled out in the Municipal Systems Act, but they have chosen to play to the public gallery because they evidently see an opportunity for some political mileage for themselves in this matter.

For the benefit of the public this is how the Council system works. If there are allegations of wrongdoing against a councillor then the accusing party must lodge a report with the Speaker of Council

In terms of the process spelled out in the Act the matter would then be referred to the Ethics Committee to establish the facts and make a determination whether the accused councillor has breached the Code of Conduct.

The committee would then forward its finding and recommendations to Council for a final decision.

Unfortunately, the parties that are accusing me of wrongdoing have seemingly decided to undermine the processes of the very Council they serve on. They want to run ahead with a public trial in which they are making false and defamatory allegations against me.

I am waiting for the Council to start its investigation and I will make available to the ethics committee documentary evidence that at no stage in this matter was I in breach of the Code of Conduct.

I declared all my private business interests in the timeframe specified in the Act and I have done everything by the book.

I trust those who seek to tarnish my name with malicious public statements will find it within themselves to issue a public apology when I am exonerated by the ethics committee.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.