Update
BITOU NEWS - Felix Lötter, who pulled Bitou Municipality's financial affairs up by its bootstraps during his previous stint as chief financial officer (CFO) between 2012 and 2016, has again been appointed CFO.
Lötter's appointment was confirmed at the monthly council meeting on Monday 29 May. Lötter, who has more than 32 years' experience in local government of which 20 years have been as a CFO, scored top and in the high 90s during the selection process.
The selection panel accepted a report from independent service provider Roy Steele, and unanimously resolved to recommend Lötter's appointment, "as he scored superior on the assessment".
Lötter recently penned Bitou Municipality's financial recovery plan. When he left Bitou after his previous stint between 2012 and 2016, the municipality showed a R130m cash surplus which has declined to R48m.
More telling is that debtors collection underperformed over the last five years, falling below 70%, compared with 100% during his previous term.
Council has authorised Municipal Manager Mbulelo Memani to negotiate a contract of employment with Lötter, taking into regard statutory requirements, affordability and other pre-conditions. A written report regarding the appointment will be submitted to Western Cape MEC for local government, Anton Bredell, within 14 days of the council's decision.
"I have over the last number of years specialised in municipal turnarounds and financial recoveries and have always been successful in implementing turnaround strategies," said Lötter. He said his focus will be to bring financial stability to the municipality through application of prudent financial management principles, financial discipline and best practices.
"I have prepared a voluntary financial recovery strategy and will implement the strategy along with the long-term financial plan and the revenue enhancement strategy, to ensure not only the financial turnaround and stability, but also the long-term financial sustainability of the municipality," Lötter explained.
"I believe in sharing knowledge and empowering the staff members in the department to enable the municipality to develop financially capable decision makers among its own staff members. Financial discipline, honesty and ethics are the key if one wants the municipality to again achieve a clean audit and clean administration."
Lötter, who is married with four children, added further, "I look forward to adding value to the municipality and to not only return the municipality to its former glory, but to improve thereon for the benefit of all its people."
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