KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna's ANC caucus this week said they had reservations about the substance of investigation into Knysna municipal manager Grant Easton, which were instituted last week after a special council meeting on July 5, and they warned of huge legal bills ratepayers would foot as a result of this.
"The ANC caucus in the Knysna council supported the council resolution that the allegations against the municipal manager should be investigated in terms of the local government disciplinary regulations for senior managers, despite our reservations on the substance of some of the allegations," said Knysna ANC chief whip Stephen de Vries on Tuesday, July 12.
This was said exactly one week after it was announced last week that Easton would be investigated.
Last week it was reported in a press release that came from the executive mayor of Knysna, Georlene Wolmarans, that the council "would consider allegations of serious misconduct made by a member of the public against Grant Easton".
"After taking into account the relevant legislative provisions, the council decided to appoint an independent investigator to probe the allegations. In order not to prejudice the outcome of the investigation, the nature of the allegations cannot be made public at this time," said the press release issued to all media.
Easton given seven days to respond
Easton was given seven days, until Thursday, July 14, to respond in writing.
However, since then the Knysna-Plett Herald has established that the nature of the allegations have to do with alleged racism brought against him by a member of the public, but documents from various sources in possession, show this internal municipal matter was first brought to the attention of the mayor in April this year.
In these documents, Easton gives details of the suspension of one of the municipality managers, why this was necessary and how it was done according to administrative protocol.
One paragraph reads: "The procedure followed is the normal procedure followed by any municipality when a suspension is exercised.
"Much concern has been expressed to the Knysna-Plett Herald since this investigation was announced, with some of the following questions being asked by business owners in Knysna: Why was an internal council decision taken by the municipal manager, the business of a member of the public?
How could a member of the public be involved in internal management decisions to the extent that the municipal manager's decisions to suspend a member of staff be made public?
De Vries warned that this investigation would not come without "wasteful expenditure of ratepayers' money".
"Secondly, the ANC raised its concerns that some of the allegations are already being investigated by a law firm from Cape Town, after recommendations of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee was approved by council.
This might result in parallel investigations and excessive cost, which will be wasteful expenditure of ratepayers’ money.
"The ANC also believes that the allegations do not warrant a suspension, as some are already being investigated with no interference. No evidence or reasons have been given by the executive mayor in terms of the local government disciplinary regulations for senior managers (regulations 6), which state that if reason exist that the presence of the senior manager at the workplace may jeopardise any investigation or endanger the wellbeing or safety of any person, or is detrimental to the stability of the municipality, or interferes with potential witnesses or commit further acts of misconduct," said De Vries.
The suspension of the municipal manager will result in unnecessary loss of working hours at a cost of R105 000 a month, explained De Vries.
What is more, De Vries warned, "The residents of Knysna have recently footed the bill of R1 883 125 for a consultant to investigate fraud in the vehicle testing station, and then the DA administration failed to ensure that witnesses appeared at the disciplinary hearing. The municipality lost all the cases. The cost to the municipality and residents for the suspended officials was R2 917 213."
At the time of going to press no comment had been received by the member of public who brought the allegations against the municipal manager, nor from Easton or Wolmarans, despite them having seen the ANC report.
Official DA response from Peter Myers – DA representative (used verbatim)
"We have been asked to comment on the press release from Stephen de Vries regarding the investigation into and possible precautionary suspension of the municipal manager Mr Grant Easton, as a result of allegations of misconduct being received against him from a member of the public.
"At a special council meeting held on 5th July 2016, it was decided that there was reasonable cause to believe that acts of misconduct had been committed by the municipal manager – it should be borne in mind that these are not just 'allegations of any kind' from a member of the public.
"It was further decided that an independent investigator be appointed to investigate these allegations. The decision to investigate the allegations was supported by all the councillors present including the ANC councillors.
"Having accepted that the allegations are of a sensitive and serious nature and that they must be investigated, it is difficult to understand why the ANC councillors would not then support the call for a precautionary suspension. In addition, it is incomprehensible as to why the ANC would now raise the issue of wasteful expenditure of ratepayers’ money for an investigation they all agreed should take place.
Identitity of complainant will not be made public
"At this stage, it has been decided that in order not to prejudice the outcome of the investigation, the nature of the allegations and the identity of the complainant will not be made public.
"It should be noted that the municipal manager has seven days to make written representation to the council as to why he should not be suspended. It seems as if the ANC councillors may have prejudged the issue – but it may be that on reviewing the written representation by the municipal manager, they may form a different view to the one expressed in their press release.
"The DA wishes to emphasise that no final decision in respect of a suspension has been made and that a decision can only be taken once the municipal manager’s written representations have been considered. However it is common practice of the municipality to suspend senior management when there is reasonable cause to believe that acts of misconduct have been committed and that all other relevant provisions in legislation and the regulations have been complied with. In fact, the municipal manager has in the recent past suspended a senior staff member for this reason and this suspension is still ongoing.
"De Vries makes a statement in his press release regarding the internal procedures and voting results of the DA caucus, which is curious, and we would like to know on what evidence he bases this statement. Under DA caucus rules, all discussions are strictly confidential and once decisions are made, all members of the caucus must respect and support them.
"De Vries and the ANC almost seem to want to protect the municipal manager’s position. They have already decided on grounds known only to themselves, that the allegations are not serious enough and do not comply with the requirements laid down in legislation to warrant a precautionary suspension, and further, that the presence of the municipal manager will not jeopardise the investigation.
"The DA in Knysna is totally committed to good, clean and responsible governance, and will always be prepared to take the tough decisions to ensure that these principles are strictly adhered to."
ARTICLE: ELAINE KING, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD EDITOR
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