Sol Plaatje Municipality launches counter-attack in Matlala court battle

SOL PLAATJE Municipality, along with executive mayor Martha Bartlett and Speaker Dipuo Peters, intends to appeal to a full bench against the decision to allow municipal manager Thapelo Matlala back to work.

It was indicated that they are prepared to approach the Supreme Court of Appeal if they do not succeed in the Northern Cape High Court.

Matlala did not return to work on Monday despite a court order made on Friday declaring his suspension null and void.

He was placed on precautionary suspension on September 16 last year and was charged with misconduct, gross misconduct, bringing the municipality into disrepute, and dereliction of duty.

He returned to work on January 5 after his suspension lapsed, and was suspended again on January 8.

Sol Plaatje Municipality, the mayor and the Speaker maintain that the continued presence of the municipal manager will endanger the safety of employees, interfere with potential witnesses, and cause instability at the municipality.

It was indicated that the presence of Matlala’s armed bodyguards disrupted operations and made the municipality “ungovernable”, despite an undertaking that he would refrain from bringing private security into the building.

They pointed to the potentially “volatile and dangerous circumstances” created for the administration, and the fact that the disciplinary process had commenced.

An objection was also made to the cost order against the mayor and Speaker in their personal capacity, arguing that it was unjustified as there was no proof that they had acted recklessly or in bad faith.

It is believed that Matlala will oppose the application.