In the upcoming week, two matters of concern to Plett residents will be heard in the superior courts in Cape Town.
On Wednesday 16 September, the Labour Appeal Court must decide whether the lower court (the Labour Court) rightly overturned the appointment of Lonwabo Ngoqo to the position of Bitou Municipal Manager. The PBRRA will be represented by its senior counsel, who will argue that the order was correctly made. Ngoqo, fired for misconduct by the Municipality, was not eligible for appointment and the Council’s effort to bypass the ban by agreement was a nullity in law.
Two days later – on Friday 18 September – the PBRRA represented by the same senior counsel will ask the Cape High Court to stop Bitou’s acquisition of smart German cars for the use of the Mayor and his Deputy. If the order is granted, the municipal budget will be spared an expenditure of about R1.5 million and an important precedent will be set for municipalities throughout the country.
The full papers can be found on below. They portray the Municipality in a dismal light. Every conceivable technical point is raised, and the motives of the PBRRA are relentlessly attacked. Costs are spuriously claimed on a special scale not only against the Association but also its members. Intimidation is the transparent strategy, but we will not be cowed.
We are determined, without respect to colour, creed or political affiliation, to fight against corruption and misgovernment in Bitou. You can rest assured that we are succeeding, slowly perhaps, but surely nonetheless.
Peter Gaylard
Chairman
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