PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - ANC Ward 5 Councillor Samkele Mangxaba has written to Bitou Mayor Jessica Kamkam calling for an internal investigation into the mutual termination agreement between the council and former CFO Felix Lötter.
He also formally indicated his intention to open a fraud case relating to this matter.
His email to Kamkam comes after Mangxaba tabled motions of questions during a marathon council meeting that only ended at 19:00 on Thursday 30 October, which included this issue.
No conclusions were reached during the meeting and Speaker Mavis Busakwe eventually closed discussions.
In his email to Kamkam, Mangxaba said his request that the municipality's legal office launch an investigation into the matter was prompted by facts that had emerged about irregularities, the terms, and the apparent disregard for the existing legislative framework and municipal policies.
Internal municipal matter
In the email, Mangxaba said to Kamkam: "The investigation report should be submit-ted to your office and, subsequently, tabled before council for consideration. Appropriate remedial action and conse-quence management processes should then follow based on the findings."
Kamkam said in response to a Knysna Plett Herald enquiry that the municipality is aware of the matter. "It is dealing with it internally in accordance with applicable labour laws and internal governance processes," she said.
During the council debate, Mangxaba was accused of releasing confidential information about Lötter's R900 000 severance agreement.
His third motion of questions related to Lötter's salary and bonus, and whether it was "lawful or self-enrichment", and whether it exceeded the municipal manager's salary. Acting Municipal Manager Victor Felton, who attended the council meeting virtually, said it did not.
Politics
ANC Councillor Sandiso Gcabayi accused councillors of selective racism and over-protection of Lötter.
DA Councillor Bill Nel said it was concerning that Lotter's confidential salary information had been leaked and that politics was behind the disclosure.
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