HOURS after DA mayor Francois du Rand was re-elected in Swellendam, the ANC submitted another motion of no confidence, and also challenged the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) to live up to its anti-corruption stance when the vote takes place next week.
Du Rand was ousted through an ANC-sponsored motion of no confidence supported by former FF Plus Speaker Juan van Schalkwyk amid accusations that the mayor had failed to act on serious corruption allegations against senior officials including the municipal manager.
A report by Advocate Etiene Vermaak into allegations of corruption, made a long list of scathing findings, recommending criminal charges to be brought against implicated officials.
Vermaak’s report found “discrepancies in bid scoring, with unexplained adjustments favouring a certain bidder during the evaluation phase”.
“Municipal officials have misrepresented to council the idea of a competitive bidding process in the procurement of these companies. The fact that work was done and paid for by the municipality to a service provider who was never appointed by the municipality is a serious form of financial misconduct / irregular expenditure and possible corruption.”
Alleged attempts to shelve the report are believed to be central to Van Schalkwyk’s resignation, who had said he could not vote in favour of Du Rand reclaiming the mayoral chain.
FF Plus’ Jasper du Toit Laubsher was on Thursday elected to replace Van Schalwyk as the new Swellendam Council Speaker, after he beat ANC councillor Julian Matthysen by 1 vote.
With a five, five split, it was the FF Plus new speaker who this time voted with Du Rand, shifting the pendulum in the DA’s favour during the election of the mayor.
Du Rand did not respond to questions on his re-election and around whether he would now act on the findings and recommendations of the Vermaak report.
ANC mayoral candidate and chief whip Amanda Swart said: “The FF Plus put pressure on their representatives to vote with the DA and to vote Francois in again. It shows the FF plus supports the alleged corruption in the municipality.
“There was a decision to suspend the municipal manager, the mayor was supposed to let her know and give her an opportunity to respond with her reasons not to be suspended. He did not do that. After (today’s)vote, we put in another motion of no confidence. We have called for a special meeting on February 18. We feel the investigation and disciplinary proceedings still need to be done. There is the report with damning findings, they even recommend criminal charges and we have the evidence.
“That’s why we have called for another vote of no confidence, so there can be follow-through on this matter. We are also testing the FFPlus. They said investigations must proceed. So we call on them to live up to their anti-corruption position.”
DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmer said Du Rand recently led the Municipality to another clean audit status achievement, reinforcing his integrity and ability to lead Swellendam.
“We are pleased to see Mayor du Rand back at the helm, where he can continue delivering good governance to the people of Swellendam. With this matter now behind us, the DA can focus on serving the residents without further disruptions,” said Simmers.
GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said it was a setback for the town.
“A recent forensic report has exposed deep levels of rot and alleged tender irregularities. That the DA has chosen to re-elect the Mayor who’s done nothing about it exposes the DA’s good governance claim as a myth. Good governance requires ethical and transparent leadership. It is a setback for the town of Swellendam to have a political leader unable or unwilling to allow scrutiny and accountability for alleged misconduct. The DA may celebrate his re-election but the town will suffer,” said Herron.
The FF Plus did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
Cape Times