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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Knysna rejects the ANC and its coalition partner's arbitrary appointment of the new Director of Community Services.

At a Knysna Council meeting held yesterday, 29 April 2021, the ANC and the KUC voted to appoint a Director: Community Services. This despite Councillors being presented with a report which found that the appointed candidate:

1. Does not conform to the requirements of the advertisement and lacks senior managerial experience, which may result in a costly dispute for the municipality;
2. Had been categorized in the “Elimination Frame” in a personality and Integrity Report;
3. Has three judgements and two defaults in a financial history screening report.

The report tabled to Council also contained allegations of political interference in the recruitment and selection process, as well as “discrepancies” in the scoring of the candidate whom the ANC and KUC voted to appoint.

Despite ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent testimony to the Zondo Commission that the ANC will now only appoint people to public service jobs who are “fit for purpose”, this is clearly not the case in Knysna. The person that the ANC in Knysna has voted to appoint as Director Community Services clearly does not meet the minimum requirements for this position.

The DA in Knysna rejects the ANC, KUC and COPE’s decision to hold the debate and vote on this matter behind closed doors and to keep the information about this appointment from the public. This decision is manifestly unlawful and the Democratic Alliance supports the public’s right to transparent government.

The DA in Knysna also notes with disappointment the fact that both the COPE Executive Mayor, Cllr Ricky van Aswegen, and the ACDP councillor, Cllr Patrick Makhetha, abstained from voting on this matter and urges them, in the future, to take a more principled stand on appointments of Senior Managers whose appointment will certainly greatly influence the future of Knysna.

All DA Councillors in Knysna voted against the appointment.

The DA in Knysna calls on the ANC, KUC, COPE and ACDP councillors to urgently rescind the decision that was clearly not made in the best interests of the people of Knysna.

Should this appointment not be rescinded, the DA will consider every action to rectify the ANC’s decision including High Court action and personal costs orders against those responsible.

Issued by The DA