Karabo Ntanzi
Speaker for Sol Plaatje Municipality, Dipuo Peters announced that a team of investigators will probe allegations of maladministration and corruption against Municipal Manager Thapelo Matlala.
The announcement was made after a Special Council Meeting held on 16 September placed Matlala on precautionary suspension pending investigation.
As per the Labour Relations Act, Matlala was given seven days to respond to corruption allegations against him, before the council decided to suspend him.
The deliberations by Councillors took six hours in which DA and Patriotic Allience abstaining from being part of Councillors who voted for Matlala’s suspension. DA Caucus leader Heinrich Pieterse said they abstain because they felt the Municipal Manager has not been given enough time to respond to the allegations against him.
“The Democratic Alliance always uphold the constitution, always respect the rule of law. At this time, we cannot make an informed decision in order to support a decision taken by ANC Councillors to place our municipal manager on precautionary suspension. Reason for that is at this present moment we don’t have sufficient evidence to place the municipal manager in suspension,” said Pieterse. “We believe that this course in the special council sitting was inconclusive because we were not presented with any investigations. The DA cannot at this time endorse ANC recommendations on precautionary suspension,” he continued.
The EFF and Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum said the decision taken to suspend Matlala was in the best interest of the municipality. To allow smooth investigation of allegations against Matlala.
Peters defended the prolonged deliberations by Councillors. She said: “Remember we were dealing with the matter affecting the head of the institution. It was not an easy matter so it was important for Councillors to really take their time to go through this particular matter. Even it meant sitting all night Councillors are ready to serve the country and the municipality and serve the people of Sol Plaatje.”
Kimberley’s civic movements have welcome the decision to put the municipal manager on precautionary suspension.
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