The motion follows an internal hearing that found Van der Westhuizen guilty on four charges relating to accommodation expenses after an independent forensic probe, covering July 2011 to 31 December 2012, brought to light allegations of fraudulent travel claims.
But council is deeply divided, with the DA and its one coalition partner, the ACDP, supporting the removal of the mayor from office, while the DA's other coalition party, the Congress of the People (Cope), is siding with the ANC and Icosa and labelling the investigation and guilty verdict a witch hunt. Van der Westhuizen has consistently denied any wrong doing and claims to be the victim of a political power struggle.
Yesterday morning, Cope announced that its councillor, John Maxim, will vote against the motion and also voiced the party's unwillingness to remain a DA coalition partner in the Western Cape.
Cope's Acting Regional Chairperson, Allan Kock, said Cope has asked that charges of fruitless and wasteful expenditure be brought against Eden Municipal Manager Godfrey Louw. "Cope sees no need to spend hundreds of thousands to get rid of somebody (Mayor van der Westhuizen) who has not stolen a single cent from the municipality. Procurement policies were not followed in employing the forensic company. Why were in-house units like Scopa or the SIU not used? Speaker Doris Nayler refuses to call a special council meeting to investigate our complaints.
"Louw is biased. He refuses to take action against an employee who Cope believes owes the municipality R60 000. The speaker also refuses to establish a committee to investigate DA Councillor Tertuis Simmers' travel claims when he did not even own a car or a legal driver's licence."
Kock further accused Louw of wasting taxpayers' money on legal fees, forensic audits and settlements in his attempts to get rid of 'innocent officials'. "This he has done without council's consent. We need answers and Louw has a strong case to answer."
Kock also asked why Cope was left out of the inquest. "Both the ANC and Icosa found the mayor 'not guilty'."
Louw yesterday denied Cope's allegations, but declined to comment in detail. "I question the timing of their press conference in view of the special council meeting scheduled for 26 September. Their concerns will be addressed by the speaker."
Kock further alleged that the minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell, had asked the speaker to address Cope's concerns at a special council meeting and that Van der Westhuizen has also asked Bredell to intervene on his behalf. Bredell denied any involvement on his part during the course of the investigation or hearing. "I am the last stop. I have had no contact with Wessie and have not told the speaker to call a special council meeting. I must respect the process. The outcome of this special council meeting and the history of the case will be sent to me. Upon receipt of the complete information package I will notify Wessie that he has 21 days to state his case with me, should he wish to do so. I will peruse the content of the package with a legal team by my side."
As Cope has only one seat in the Eden council and the DA/ACDP alliance still boasts a majority with 19 of the 35 seats, all indications are that Wessie van der Westhuizen will be forced to hand in his mayoral chain today. Another agenda point may see another Eden DA councillor, Gert Niehaus, also facing an internal hearing as the ENS forensic report has also implicated him in the same travel claims debacle. Niehaus denies any involvement.
* Eden-burgemeester, Wessie van der Westhuizen sal vandag hoor of hy sy burgemeestersketting moet teruggee. Die Eden-raad sal vandag tydens 'n spesiale raadsvergadering stem of Van der Westhuizen van sy burgemeestersamp onthef moet word, na hy vroeër skuldig bevind is dat hy gekonkel het met reis en verblyfseise. Een van die DA se alliansievennote, Cope gaan egter in weerwil van die DA se wense teen Wessie se ontslag stem en noem die skuldigbevinding 'n heksejag. Die DA/ACDP-alliansie het egter steeds 'n meerderheid stem in die raad.
A very concerned Allan Kock, Cope acting regional chair (left), and Vuyani Gouws, acting provincial chair, at their press conference in George yesterday morning. Photo: Ilse Schoonraad
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