– Allegations of nepotism have caused protests to flare up.
– Community concerns must be investigated.
– Opportunities must be allocated fairly.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an investigation into allegations of nepotism in the Kgatelopele Municipality following complaints surrounding the appointment of trainee traffic officers.
This follows brewing tensions, including a disruptive protest by aggrieved community members on the R31 passing though Danielskuil last week, that brought traffic to a standstill.
According to allegations, three recruits selected for the NARYSEC Traffic Officer Programme are related to Municipal Manager Willie Blunden and Councillor Sylvester Vukeya. It is further alleged that their inclusion came at the expense of other recruits, who were removed from the programme to make way for them. Reports also indicate that nine of the ten original Kgatelopele recruits were withdrawn from the programme two months after it had commenced.
Law and order must be restored in Kgatelopele, and the concerns raised by the community must be treated with the seriousness they deserve.
Council must urgently institute a full, transparent, and independent investigation to establish the facts. This investigation must examine both the original and subsequent recruitment processes, determine why nine recruits were removed, how and why they were replaced, and whether the alleged family ties between the recruits, the Municipal Manager, and the councillor influenced the appointments.
There is no place for nepotism, favouritism, or cadre deployment in public programmes. Opportunities funded by the public must be allocated fairly, transparently, and in a manner that benefits the entire community.