Cape Town - The Oudtshoorn Municipality has defended its decision to appoint fraud and corruption accused Walter Hendricks in its municipal manager position.
Hendricks, who is currently a director in the Theewaterskloof Municipality, appeared in the George Regional Court in August along with four other officials on charges relating to fraud and corruption.
This after the Hawks' Serious Commercial Investigation Unit served the five accused with court summonses in September 2020, on charges of fraud, corruption and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
The case is expected to be heard in April 2023.
Hendricks was appointed in the Oudtshoorn Municipality during a special council meeting last month.
He was previously the acting municipal manger at the municipality.
The municipality confirmed the appointment, saying Hendricks would take up office in January.
“Mr Hendricks has been appointed.
He has confirmed his acceptance and will take up office in early January.
He has already acted in this position in Oudtshoorn. He was also a director at the Oudtshoorn Municipality for a length of time and knows the municipality and its challenges well.
He also meets all the requirements and qualifications which were prerequisites for the post, without which he would not have been shortlisted by the multi-party panel,” the municipality said.
Colan Sylvester of the Oudtshoorn Gemeenskaps Inisiatief (OGI) said they have raised concerns about Hendricks's appointment in the municipality.
“Especially the fact that the allegations had been brought to the mayor's attention. The mayor preferred not to act in terms of the disciplinary regulations for senior managers.
"This allowed the candidate to apply under favourable conditions at Oudtshoorn due to the failure in responsibilities of the mayor.
“The question to raise is whether the mayor deliberately did not act in terms of the regulation to allow him to apply and be appointed. A current investigation by the Hawks into the allegations is underway,” said Sylvester.
The municipality said Hendricks disclosed the matter to the panel.
“Mr Hendricks fully disclosed the matter to the panel which consisted of parties from the opposition coalition, the governing coalition as well as two external panel members in the persons of the municipal manager of Mossel Bay as well as an independent recruitment specialist who did a thorough vetting of all applicants.
“The judicial process regarding the charges needs to run its course,” they said.
Hendricks said he would resign at the Theewaterskloof Municipality to take the position in Oudtshoorn.
“There are challenges at Oudtshoorn and I think that I can work with the current administration to address those challenges. I feel that the municipality can be turned around if we all work together.
“I left Oudtshoorn to take up a five-year contract at Theewaterskloof Municipality.
“Now I will resign to take a five-year contract with Oudtshoorn Municipality,” he said.
Local Government MEC Anton Bredell's spokesperson, Wouter Kriel, said: “The department has asked the municipality to send the relevant appointment documentation, which it will assess, and then make a recommendation to the minister”.
The Hawks did not respond by deadline.
Cape Times