GOOD Statement by Keagen Gertse,
GOOD Drakenstein Councillor & Caucus Whip
06 June 2025
In a country facing extreme poverty and staggering unemployment, hiring practices within a Municipality must be conducted with the utmost integrity, fairness, and transparency.
The GOOD Party in Drakenstein has urgently written to Executive Mayor Stephen Korabie following serious allegations of nepotism in the recruitment process for general worker positions within the Municipality’s Social Development Department.These allegations were brought to our attention by whistleblowers.
According to the information received, a shortlist of ten candidates was drawn up but only two were interviewed. It is alleged that both candidates had been pre-selected by their spouses who are already employed in the department. Sources further claim that these spouses were allegedly given access not only to the candidate list, but also to the interview questionnaire, raising serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the process.
If proven true, these claims point to deeply flawed and unethical hiring practices. The implications are severe. They undermine the credibility of the Municipality’s recruitment procedures and perpetuate a culture of favouritism and exclusion.
GOOD has called on Mayor Korabie to immediately initiate an investigation into these allegations to assess their veracity and determine the extent to which undue influence may have played a role. Should these claims be substantiated, an independent inquiry into broader municipal hiring practices must follow.
GOOD urges Mayor Korabie to act with the urgency and transparency this situation demands. A failure to do so will only fuel public suspicion that these unethical practices are not isolated incidents, but part of a deeper, more systemic problem.
Media enquiries:media@forgood.org.za