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. […]
Plett Ratepayers Oppose Ngoqo Appeal
Dear Members, The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers’ Association filed papers on 19 March to oppose Bitou Municipality in the Constitutional Court. The Association seeks to uphold the order setting aside the illegal re-appointment of its Municipal Manager, Lonwabo Ngoqo. A panel of ConCourt judges will now consider whether the application deserves a hearing. If it […]
Lonwabo Ngoqo’s appointment AGAIN found unlawful
The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers’ Association is pleased to announce that the Labour Appeal Court has upheld the earlier Labour Court’s decision that Bitou Municipality’s appointment of Lonwabo Ngoqo as Municipal Manager in February 2019 was unlawful. In 2012, Ngoqo, while employed as Bitou Municipal Manager, was found guilty of serious financial misconduct and dismissed. In terms […]
Appeal Hearing Update – Ngoqo Case
Last Wednesday the Labour Appeal Court (‘LAC’) heard argument in the Ngoqo case. The question before it whether the Council acted lawfully when, in 2019, it appointed Mr Ngoqo as Municipal Manager, the post at the very apex of the municipality. A statutory ban exists on the re-employment of senior officials previously dismissed by a municipality for […]
Ratepayers Association Intervention In Ngoqo Appeal
10 April 2020 Dear Members, The Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association has, in its capacity as amicus curiae (friend of the court), today filed its Heads of Argument in the matter of Department of Local Government MEC Bredell vs Bitou Municipality, relating to the unlawful appointment of Lonwabo Ngoqo as Bitou Municipal Manager. In addition, the […]
Court judgment refuses to bar Municipal Manager Ngoqo from his position.
Dear Plett Ratepayers, We reported at our recent report back meeting that we would be in court on 20 November to ask the judge to enforce the dismissal of Municipal Manager Ngoqo since his appointment was found to be unlawful. The judge’s decision is below. As background, Bitou Municipal Manager Lonwabo Ngoqo was reappointed in […]
