The Democratic Alliance in the Northern Cape calls on premier Zamani Saul to ensure that members of the executive council must personally pay for costs incurred in frivolous litigation, especially the lawsuits that stem from a stubborn refusal to treat coalition governments with respect.
This comes as the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs, Bentley Vass, lost a court case last week as a direct result of his refusal to concur with the appointment of a municipal manager by the Kareeberg Local Municipality. The court made it clear that this letter of concurrence is not a favour that the MEC bestows on municipalities, but a statutory duty that must be fulfilled.
The position became vacant after the previous municipal manager resigned in May 2022. Officials from the department of COGHSTA were seconded to act while the process of filling the vacancy was underway. These secondments exceeded the timeframe of six months, as prescribed by the Municipal Systems Act, and there is also some doubt as to whether all the seconded officials were duly appointed by CoGHSTA. But it seems as if Vass preferred these irregularities above giving the concurrence to the appointment of a new municipal manager, which the council requested since August this year.
We’ve seen similar instances of interference with the appointment of municipal staff in the province, which has disastrous consequences for service delivery.
It is unacceptable that residents and taxpayers must bear the brunt of political pride that prevents MECs from doing their jobs with diligence and care.