NATIONAL NEWS - The Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell, has taken aim at the national Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.

Bredell is accusing McKenzie of using “delaying tactics” in court to hamper the investigation into alleged irregular financial conduct during his tenure as mayor of the Central Karoo District Municipality from 2022 to 2023.

In a media statement issued on Tuesday 8 April, Bredell said he is “frustrated” by McKenzie using the court process to stall an investigation into a fundraising event in May 2022. Such delays are described as Stalingrad tactics.

Asked about taking on a national government minister, Bredell’s spokesperson, Wouter Kriel replied: “We are only implementing the law.”

In Bredell’s statement, under the headline “McKenzie stalls Central Karoo District fundraising investigation”, Bredell says R3m was collected on behalf of the municipality, but was allegedly never deposited into the municipality’s bank account.

In response to the statement, McKenzie said Bredell wants to “score points”. 

“To now accuse me of delay tactics is disingenuous at best. I have always respected the courts and will continue to follow due process,” said McKenzie.

But Bredell says after Mckenzie’s court bid to “not make certain information available” was dismissed in both the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal, McKenzie then approached the Judge President of the Supreme Court of Appeal in March this year to reconsider his dismissed appeal against cooperating with the investigation team.

Sequence of events

“The investigation, according to the prescripts of the Municipal Systems Act: Section 106, into allegations of maladministration, fraud, corruption and other serious malpractice, was launched in August 2023 by the Western Cape Department of Local Government,” said Bredell.

“However, in May 2024 Mr McKenzie approached the High Court to argue why he should not cooperate and make information available relating to the investigation. His application was declined, and the High Court ruled that Mr McKenzie, and other respondents must cooperate with the investigation. He took the decision on appeal, which was dismissed by the High Court in June 2024.

“Mr McKenzie then approached the Supreme Court of Appeal in October 2024 to reconsider his application, but this application was also declined in February 2025.”

McKenzie has now approached the Judge President of the Supreme Court of Appeal to reconsider his unsuccessful appeal.

“People complain about the slow response from government to act against transgressors, but often the slow wheels of justice can be blamed on individuals’ ability to stall, delay and obstruct the legal process,” said Bredell.

Bredell said the Central Karoo District Municipality is resource poor.
“So, closure on this matter would be to the benefit of the entire organisation, irrespective of the findings in favour of, or against the erstwhile mayor,” Bredell said.

Mckenzie maintains that he has always respected the courts and will continue to follow due process. “This is not a simple matter - it raises important legal and constitutional questions that deserve proper ventilation. It’s disappointing, though not surprising, to see Minister Bredell making public statements on a matter that is currently before the courts.

“The facts are clear - this case was initially dismissed, and it was the Minister’s office that petitioned, through an unusual process, to have it placed back on the roll before the 2024 elections. To now accuse me of delay tactics is disingenuous at best,” McKenzie said.

Asked for clarification, Wouter Kriel denied that the case was ever dismissed, saying that at the time the High Court decided the matter was not urgent, so it was placed back on the ordinary roll.

McKenzie urged Bredell to allow the judicial process to unfold “without political interference or public commentary aimed at scoring points. We should all respect the law equally,” McKenzie said.

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