Cogta minister urged to probe Sol Plaatje acting manager’s appointment

THE DA will request the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, to investigate the secondment of Sol Plaatje acting municipal manager Busisiwe Mgaguli, after its request to convene an urgent special council meeting to deliberate her appointment was declined.

DA caucus leader Heinrich Pieterse said he believed her appointment was technically incorrect as she was convicted of fraud.

“The denial of our request is an attempt to avoid accountability and buy more time,” he said.

Pieterse pointed out that the precautionary suspension of municipal manager Thapelo Matlala had ended on October 16.

“His suspension can only be extended by holding a special council meeting before the precautionary suspension ends. Failure to do so will permit him to return to office, despite investigations into the allegations against him likely not being completed yet.

“Given the grave nature of the ongoing saga regarding the municipal manager position, the serious repercussions for service delivery, and the financial and legal implications for the municipality, this is a slap in the face of Kimberley residents. 

“Sol Plaatje Municipality is not a fiefdom. There are rules and regulations, and a multi-party council to whom this institution must account. Above all, there are also the citizens of Kimberley to whom Sol Plaatje has a constitutional mandate to deliver clean governance and service delivery,” Pieterse said.