Update
GEORGE NEWS - During a closed session of a special council meeting on Tuesday 27 May, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Council placed Municipal Manager Monde Stratu and Executive Manager for Roads and Transport Planning Services John Daniels on precautionary suspension, effective immediately.
Executive Manager for Community Services Nthabeleng Raisa-Mlandu has been appointed as acting municipal manager and Japie Strydom will serve as acting executive manager for Roads and Transport Planning Services.
The decision to suspend Stratu and Daniels follows allegations of possible misconduct related to the Western Cape Provincial Government's Department of Infrastructure's (WCG DoI) Roads Agency function.
On 6 May, the GRDM Council appointed an independent external investigator to probe these allegations, in line with the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers. The investigation was prompted by an earlier review from the WCG DoI, which identified potential irregularities in the GRDM's Roads Department.
Late in April, Melt Botes, spokesperson for Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, stated there was prima facie evidence of mismanagement, necessitating a thorough investigation into possible fraud. The investigator's report is expected to be submitted to the GRDM Council within the stipulated legal timeframes.
When asked for comment, Daniels said he had not attended the meeting. "I have no comment."
Stratu confirmed on Wednesday morning that he did receive a notice of precautionary suspension late on Tuesday afternoon, 27 May. He agreed to participate in a comprehensive interview addressing all media-related concerns involving him, once the independent investigation report was released.
Executive Manager for Roads and Transport Planning Services John Daniels
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