GOOD press statement by Donavan Saptoe,
GOOD: Councillor George Municipality
24 April 2022
The GOOD Party has asked the Public Protector to urgently investigate irregular staff appointments in DA-led George Municipality after Councillor Donovan Saptoe’s formal request to the Mayor to investigate the matter was met with threatening Whatsapp messages from a controversial senior manager allegedly at the centre of the scandal.
The threats have been reported to police, but the Public Protector is an investigating authority of last resort to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption in instances that other investigative avenues have been exhausted.
While the DA regularly froths at the mouth over what it terms ANC cadre deployment, circumstances in George strip its hypocrisy bare. The fact is, jobs-for-pals is an unlawful and unethical practice, regardless of whose pals they are.
At the heart of the George rot was the appointment of two senior officials to labour relations posts that did not exist in the approved staff structure. These appointments were allegedly made under the direct instruction of a senior manager, Mr Alan Paulse, who is the Director for Community Services.
Mr Paulse previously hired the same two officials in Oudtshoorn Municipality, where he “served” as Municipal Manager before resigning to avoid a disciplinary hearing arising out of a decision by the Council to investigate allegations of maladministration. After resigning from Oudtshoorn the DA deployed him to George.
When GOOD Councillor Saptoe asked the George Mayor to investigate, Paulse fired off several Whatsapp notes threatening Saptoe and his wife, Roslyn. The Saptoes laid criminal charges, transcribing the messages and providing the transcripts to George Police.
But that’s not where the jobs-for-pals saga ends.
The Public Protector has also been asked to investigate whether the George Municipal Manager, Dr Michelle Gratz, misled Council with regards to the appointment of Paulse’s pals.
Dr Gratz acted as Municipal Manager of the Knysna Municipality before curiously resigning in the middle of a Council meeting. She was subsequently deployed to George.
The Public Protector has been provided with all supporting documentation in GOOD’s possession. The DA is anxious to keep these documents under wraps, declaring them confidential.
Given the threats against the safety and lives of a whistle-blower and his family, we call on the Public Protector to act with urgency.
Media enquiries:
Donavan Saptoe, GOOD: Councillor for George Municipality
Cell: 082 401 2935
Email: dsaptoe64@gmail.com
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (WhatsApp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za