GEORGE NEWS - Municipal Manager Trevor Botha submitted an application for an interdict at the Western Cape High Court, with costs orders, against the decision of all DA councillors who supported a council item which placed him under precautionary suspension for three months.
Botha said last Friday that his application is expected to serve in court early this week. No update was received by the time of going to print.
Both Botha and Director of Community Services Walter Hendricks have been placed on precautionary suspension since Monday 17 February. Their suspension relates to the outcome of a forensic investigation ordered by MEC Anton Bredell, into the War on Waste project - a municipal project initiated by Melvin Naik during his reign as mayor of George. Naik has since lost his DA membership and position as mayor, and is also fighting the matter in court.
The three DA ward councillors who voted with the opposition against the decision to suspend Botha, have also lost their DA membership. The three, Edmund Bussack, Dawid Willemse and Belrina Cornelius, are not implicated in Botha's application for an interdict.
Trevor Botha Photo: Michelle Pienaar
DA regional chair Jaco Londt said the DA's position on the matter is clear. "There are serious allegations raised in the forensic report against the MM [Botha]. It would've been irresponsible of the DA councillors not to act on these allegations. We trust that any judgement on this will encourage future actions striving to implement and maintain good, clean governance."
With the loss of three ward councillors, three by-elections are on their way. The date for all three by-elections, in Wards 8 (Parkdene), 14 (Rosedale) and 27 (portion of Pacaltsdorp) has been set for 13 May. The registration weekend is 21 and 22 March.
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