GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality has been informed by the Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell, that the appointment of the director of Civil Engineering Services, Reggie Wesso, is invalid. 

"The selection panel who appointed him did not have the expertise or experience in the area of the advertised post as required," reads a letter from Bredell, following an earlier objection by local municipal watchdog, George First Forum.

"The implication is that, should Mr Wesso not be amenable to voluntarily vacating the position, the alternative would be to approach the High Court to set aside the appointment."

In Bredell's letter to George First Forum he states that although Wesso meets the prescribed higher education qualifications and years of experience required, the composition of the selection panel did not comply with the regulations applicable to the appointment of senior managers. Wesso's appointment is therefore invalid.

Both George Municipality and Wesso were approached for comment, but declined to issue any statement.

In a letter to Bredell in September last year, the forum asked the minister to reject Wesso's appointment and to ensure that the post be re-advertised. Their main concern is that the selection panel did not feature an independent civil engineering specialist to assist with Wesso's appointment. 

In terms of the regulations, at least three (and not more than five) members must serve on the panel: the municipal manager; a member of the mayoral committee or councillor who is the head of the relevant portfolio; and at least one other person who has expertise or experience in the area of the advertised post. This person may not be a municipal staff member or councillor.

In their objection letter to Bredell last year, the forum complained that the "independent specialist who assisted the selection panel appears to be a person from outside the George area who does not necessarily have intimate knowledge of the field or the needs or vision of the George Municipality, and is unaware of the qualifications and experience required for this senior position."

Forum spokesperson Koos Sieberhagen told George Herald this week that they will be demanding that the entire appointment process be redone from start to finish. 

"An appointee may well have the necessary qualification and stipulated years of experience, but only an experienced engineer will be able to judge if he or she has the depth of experience needed to run such a specialist department. We don't want window dressing and ask that the job be re-advertised."

The George First Forum is a body of local engineers, town planners, architects, surveyors, draughtsmen, lawyers, environmental consultants and professionals in the developmental field, and aim to act as a watchdog in the interest of development in the city and surrounds.

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