PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - In a shock move, a vote of no confidence against Bitou's deputy mayor Jessica Kamkam and speaker Annelise Olivier was passed during a special council meeting in Plettenberg Bay today, Tuesday April 24.

This after Bitou mayor and DA coalition partner Peter Lobese of the Active United Front (AUF) went against his coalition agreement and voted with the ANC to get rid of the two women - both DA councillors.

While information is still vague there are claims that the meeting was held "illegally" due to the absence of a legally appointed municipal manager.

The town's municipal manager position has been a point of contention for several months after Thabo Ndlovu was placed under precautionary suspension while a forensic investigation was being conducted into claims of maladministration and misconduct.

Acting municipal manager Johnny Douglas was subsequently appointed, but Lobese voted against extending his contract. Ndlovu was later reinstated, but asked again to vacate the position. Gert Groenewald was also appointed, but resigned shortly thereafter, but asked to resume duty as acting municipal manager on Friday April 20, 2018. This was allegedly done without council approval and therefore "illegal".

A notice of motion of no confidence in Kamkam and Olivier was subsequently delivered to Olivier, the speaker, in a plain envelope without any name or address or without the requisite date stamp of the municipal manager - a requirement in terms of the Municipal Structures Act.

No legally appointed municipal manager was available to accept the notice of motion.

More information in the Knysna-Plett Herald and online as it becomes available.

Also, read this week's Knysna-Plett Herald newspaper to find out why the Hawks are investigating the Bitou municipality.

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