Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
by Isak Fritz – Constituency Head of Hantam
Date: 29 August 2017
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
The DA is making a final call on ANC Hantam ward councillor, Henry de Wee, who has his bread buttered on both sides and is holding down two permanent state jobs, to hurry up and choose whether he wants to work for local or provincial government.
De Wee was elected as the ward councillor for ward 2 in the Hantam Local Municipality during the local government elections in 2016. However, all this time, he has been earning a double pay cheque and remains in the employ of the Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works, where he is appointed as Chief Director of Human Resources.
This is in violation of Section 36(4) of the Public Service Act, which states that employees in the public service may only serve in municipal councils if they are part-time councillors. As a ward councillor, however, De Wee is a full-time councillor.
The DA reported this matter to COGHSTA MEC, Alvin Botes, in July already. However, no action has been taken against De Wee, whom it is believed also does not have written permission from the executive authority of the Roads and Public Works Department to undertake other remunerative work.
For De Wee to draw a salary as a ward councillor while still in the employ of the department, without such permission, puts him in further violation of the Public Service Act.
De Wee must exercise his choice and decide whether he wants to serve as a ward councillor, which would require his urgent resignation from the department, or if he wants to continue in the employ of the department, which would in turn require his urgent resignation as a ward councillor.
If the MEC fails to act in accordance with the law and does not ensure that De Wee resigns from one of the two positions that he currently occupies, and also pays back the illegitimate salary that he has been receiving for the past year, then we will strongly consider taking legal action against him.
It cannot be allowed that laws are flouted to benefit individuals at the expense of service delivery.
Media Enquiries
Isak Fritz
Constituency Head of Hantam
083 395 2737
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
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