GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality was granted approval to waive the retirement age of acting municipal manager (MM) Godfrey Louw, until June 2025. 

Louw, who is over the age of 65, has been appointed to act for three months, from middle October. His acting period lapsed on 14 January.

Questions have been raised about Louw's position as acting MM, with allegations that he has been acting illegally since middle January; receiving no salary for work being done; and without an approved waiver. 

If this held any truth, it would mean that all documentation signed by Louw since 14 January would be invalid.

However, Legadima Leso, CoGTA's chief director of communication and marketing, indicates otherwise. 

Leso says the municipality's application for an age waiver at the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) was granted to allow them to finalise the recruitment and selection process for Louw's replacement. It is not clear when this waiver was granted.

In its response, George Municipality confirms that Louw's appointment as acting municipal manager was duly authorised by council resolution, with the necessary waiver granted by CoGTA until June 2025. "The municipality remains committed to transparency and good governance and encourages reliance on official sources for accurate information."

According to the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, a municipal council may, in special circumstances and on good cause shown, apply in writing to the MEC for local government to extend the period of appointment for a maximum of three months.

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