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MEC spurns Minister’s Determination not to Appoint Inappropriate and Unqualified Municipal Manager

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The MEC for Local Government in the Eastern Cape appears to be condoning the appointment of Reverend Noel Pietersen as Municipal Manager in Camdeboo Municipality, despite his lack of necessary qualifications and poor track record in local government.

Reverend Pietersen applied for and was successful in obtaining the position of Municipal Manager in Camdeboo Municipality, despite not having the required minimum qualifications for the position.

Furthermore, Pietersen has not covered himself in glory as he has a range of serious charges pending against him, which he did not disclose at his original interview for the position.

In addition, the Reverend did not make a success of his tenure at Oudtshoorn Municipality where he left under a cloud.

It is further alleged that Pietersen is trying to claim two salaries, as the Director: Cooperate Support of Gariep Municipality, as well as the newly appointed Municipal Manager in Camdeboo, from the 1st of November 2013.

In addition, it has come to our attention that Pietersen is also trying to claim Subsistence and Travel from Camdeboo Municipality, arising from a visit to the municipality in November, instituted on his own volition.

The Camdeboo Municipality wrote to the National Treasury, on the instruction of the MEC, asking for a waiver of the minimum requirements in order for Pietersen to be appointed.

To date, there has been no such permission from Treasury in this regard and as such the appointment is now in violation of a statutory obligation and is unlawful.

Recently, DA councilor, Samantha Jankovich of Camdeboo council wrote to national Minister of Cooperative governance, Honourable Tsenoli asking for his intervention in this matter.

The result of the intervention concluded that the appointment of Pietersen is null and void and he should not be appointed in this capacity. For the Ministerial Determination Report, click here.

However, MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane appears to have gone against this determination and sanctioned this appointment.

The Democratic Alliance views this issue in a serious light as we are of the view that a determination from a Minister is legally binding.

Secondly, the conduct by the MEC and the ANC led council to appoint this person flies in the face of the commitment by the ANC and the president to fight corruption, maladministration and poor service delivery.

On behalf of the Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape, we have referred this matter to our colleague in parliament, John Steenhuizen MP, for him to engage with the Minister in this regard.

I will be asking the MEC to account in the Provincial Legislature as to why he sanctioned this appointment and went against the determination of the National Minister.

This matter shows yet again that patronage and party loyalty trump morality and competence and it is on such issues that the ANC will come up gainst fierce opposition to this appointment in Camdeboo Municipality and could be severely punished by the electorate in next year’s elections.

Dacre Haddon

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Port Elizabethan

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