GOOD statement by Bongani Sonqwenqwe ,
GOOD Overberg District Councillor
21 November 2024
The GOOD party welcomes the intervention by Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell in the Swellendam Municipal Manager saga but further intervention is needed.
Swellendam has had three acting Municipal Managers in a month.
• Keith Stuurman declined the appointment.
• HR Manager Peter le Roux resigned from acting position.
• And the external candidate Roslyn Saptoe’s appointment did not follow due process.
As GOOD, we had previously raised questions about the process of selection.
The GOOD Party has a pending criminal complaint against Roslyn Saptoe, and her husband Donovan Saptoe, which we understand is currently under investigation.
The Saptoes failed to account for party funds relating to a George by-election.
MEC Bredell has confirmed that the suspension of the DA’s controversial Municipal Manager, Anneleen Vorster did not follow due process.
The subsequent appointment of le Roux and Saptoe was also flawed.
As GOOD, we call on the Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell to intervene further in the municipality.
The current political battles have landed the municipality in this predicament and the dysfunctional municipality is no longer serving the best interest of the people.
The municipality is currently led by a DA, FF Plus coalition but the relationship has appeared to have soured.
The DA’s Municipal Manager, Vorster, was suspended by FF+ Speaker, Juan van Schalkwyk pending an investigation into alleged misconduct within the supply chain process.
The DA Mayor Francois du Rand has faced two motions of no confidence in his term, one of which was brought by his own party in 2022
The DA in Swellendam has been accused of lacking inclusive leadership and being anti-transformation, with Mayor Francois du Rand and Municipal Manager Anneleen Vorster at the forefront of those allegations.
In 2023, myself as the former DA Speaker of Swellendam, the former DA Deputy Mayor Abraham Pokwas, and DA councillor Gcobisa Mangcu-Qotyiwe all had our DA memberships terminated for a decision to advertise for the appointment of a director for corporate services which we felt would address serious shortcomings in the employment equity of the management structure in Swellendam.
As these political battles continue to play out, it is the residents of Swellendam that are suffering a lack of basic services.
Media enquiries:media@forgood.org.za