GOOD Statement by Christie Noble
GOOD Stellenbosch Municipality Councillor
22 June 2023
The GOOD Party has submitted a formal complaint to the Minister of Local Government, Anton Bredell, to hold the Mayor of Stellenbosch Municipality accountable for interference in the administrative processes of Council.
The GOOD Party also requested the Office of the Speaker to conduct an investigation into her actions which were clearly politically driven and compromised the credibility and integrity of the Municipality.
This comes after High Court Judge Mangcu-Lockwood found that Mayor Gesie van Deventer`s decision to engage in a general review of a decision taken by the Stellenbosch Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT), was materially influenced by an error of law.
Although Mayor Van Deventer is permitted by law to act as an Appeal Authority in terms of the Land Use Planning By-Law, she acted beyond her legislative function by investigating the validity of certain documents when presiding over the appeal.
The court found that her subsequent decision to revoke the decision of the Stellenbosch MPT had an adverse effect on the Franschhoek Claimants Trust`s rights of preventing it from developing the property.
This intervention (or interference) in the administrative processes should be regarded as misconduct which threatens the credibility and integrity of the Municipality.
The GOOD Party responded to the judgment by submitting a formal request to the Council to suspend Mayor Van Deventer pending the outcome of an investigation into her conduct.
The General Code of Conduct, as per Schedule 5 of the Municipal Structures Act, stipulates that councillors must perform the functions of office in good faith, honestly and in a transparent manner. This includes that a councillor may not interfere in the management or administration of any department of the Municipal Council unless mandated so by Council.
The GOOD Party has therefore submitted a formal complaint to the MEC in terms of Section 11, 11(d) and 14 of Schedule 5 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act to report the seriousness of the alleged breach of Schedule 5 of the General Code of Conduct.
The GOOD Party is very concerned about the “fruitless and wasteful expenditure” of the Stellenbosch Local Municipality.
Over the last four years the Stellenbosch Local Municipality instituted or defended various court cases and lost millions of Stellenbosch taxpayers money, which could have been spent on service delivery.
Media Enquiries:
Christie Noble, GOOD Stellenbosch Municipality Councillor
Cell: 062 401 4506
Email: christienoble11@gmail.com
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za