Appointment of Municipal Manager Memani
Dear Members, Mayor Swart announced the appointment of Mr. Mbulelo Memani as Bitou Municipal Manager on 17 March. In spite of Mr. Memani making disclosures of pending corruption charges in Knysna during the interview, Councillors Swart and Nel, as part of the selection committee, were satisfied and nominated him anyway. Mr. Memani is due to […]
No go for Ngoqo
In 2019, Bitou Council re-employed Lonwabo Ngoqo, an ANC deployee, as Municipal Manager even though he was absolutely barred from holding the post. The disqualification stemmed from a regulation that says no municipal employee who has been dismissed for serious financial misconduct may hold senior office in the municipal sector within the ensuing ten years. […]
Request for Letter of Assurance
Sent: 10 July 2021 10:28 AM Municipal Manager Bitou Municipality Municipal Manager, Further to the letter below, please provide us with the municipality’s assurance that no public funds are being spent, nor will they be, on current political wrangling between the parties. Please respond within 48 hours. Regards, Peter Gaylard Chairman From: Plett Rate Payers Sent: 10 July […]
Bitou Implementation Plan
Dear MEC Bredell, There has been no further communication from yourself nor Mr. Paulse since our 3 May letter, requesting your intervention as offered in your 9 October 2020 letter. We ask you again to provide any documentation you hold regarding Bitou’s intentions to act on the 72 disciplinary and criminal charges as recommended in […]
Grants-in-Aid Report
Dear Members, The policy for the Mayor’s Grants-in-Aid Fund says “the mayor must report to council on an annual basis in respect of the status of the Fund including amounts withdrawn, and the names of the beneficiaries. Any donations received must also be reported.” We do not recall seeing a report on this fund, nor […]
Excerpts from 30 Oct Council Meeting
15 November 2020 Dear Members, The 30 October 2020 Mayco and Council agendas had some interesting information in them. Excerpts are below. It is concerning that Bitou’s debt stands at R335 million and climbing; National Treasury provided Bitou with R17.3 million for Covid relief which is being spent on staff bonuses; of the R50 […]
