Sol Plaatje: Appointment of acting MM must be rescinded

by Christopher Phiri – DA Caucus Leader, Sol Plaatje Municipality Error! Filename not specified.Date: 01 August 2019Release: Immediate Please click here for a picture.During a press briefing today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has renewed our call on MEC of Cooperative Governance, Bentley Vass, for the urgent rescindment of the appointment of acting Sol Plaatje Municipal Manager (MM), Nomonde Tyabashe-Kesiamang.The DA refuses to recognise Tyabashe-Kesiamang’s appointment.We not only believe that Tyabashe-Kesiamangis is the wrong person to head up the Northern Cape’s capital municipality, but also that her appointment is fundamentally flawed. Hence, anything authorised by Tyabashe-Kesiamangin in her capacity as acting MM, is also invalid.The DA bases our opinion on the following:Tyabashe-Kesiamang, in her capacity as Director of Strategy, Economic Development and Planning, was on the verge of being placed under precautionary suspension pending the finalization of an investigation against her, before her shock rise to power as the acting MM on the 25th of June this year.In fact, a document detailing the recommendation for her precautionary suspension, on the basis that there is reasonable cause to believe that an act of misconduct had been committed by her, had already been prepared for councillors, for their consideration. See document here.The document suggests that Kesiamang was responsible for the municipality forfeiting at least R110 million million, if not more, for the Galeshewe Stormwater Upgrade Project. In this regard, it is believed that Kesiamang refused to hand over the project, ultimately resulting in serious underspending.The document includes a submission by Kesiamang in which she does not deny misconduct but rather indicates that, in order to prevent the repetition of future misconduct, she has already sent a letter to the National Treasury recusing herself and her directorate from running the Galeshewe Stormwater upgrade Project, so that they do not engage with her on this matter, but rather with the MM.Ironically, Kesiamang is now the acting MM.The document,which is in the possession of the DA, has failed to see the light of day.The report was shoved under the mat in an about-turn that saw Tyabashe-Kesiamang irregularly promoted to the position of acting Municipal Manager before being presented to councillors for consideration.In light of the above, the DA does not consider Tyabashe-Kesiamang to be a suitable candidate for the position of acting MM.She has not only shown that she incapable of managing the municipalities funds, but for reasons known to herself, she has suspiciously ensured a situation whereby she will remain in control of the Galeshewe Stormwater upgrade project.In this regard, the DA also considers the chaotic council meeting of 25 June 2019, during which Tyabashe-Kesiamang was appointed, to have been orchestrated.We have no doubt that the utter disorder, that prevented the opposition from participating in the proceedings, was planned in a blatant bid to prevent us from raising objections to her appointment.Tyabashe-Kesiamang’s name was also never formally proposed in the council meeting, nor did it appear on the agenda/order paper.There is also no record of the attendance of the farcical council meeting.The DA has previously written to MEC Vass, and we will renew our call on him to deal with Tyabashe-Kesiamang’s appointment in an open and transparent manner.If we fail to get a satisfactory response from him in due course, we will escalate this matter to the national Minister and even the president if needs be.In the meantime, to ensure that the questionable circumstances regarding Tyabashe-Kesiamang’s appointment are not simply ignored, we are also placing the document recommending for her precautionary suspension in the public domain as we refuse to tacitly condone the highly irregular goings on within Sol Plaatje municipality.We will further also be writing to the Speaker to request that the said document is discussed in Council as a matter of urgency.On top of the above, the DA will further be requesting the recordings of the council meeting, and all related documents, to continue making our case that the unrest that ensued at the meeting was pre-planned to secure the appointment of Tyabashe-Kesiamang.The DA will not sit idly by while the Sol Plaatje fiefdom continues to swell and grow. Sol Plaatje is on the brink of anarchy and order must be restored before this municipality collapses completely. Media Enquiries Christopher PhiriDA Caucus Leader, Sol Plaatje Municipality078 740 9930 Shelley De WittResearcher082 847 1387