concerns
10 February 2009
North West MEC for Developmental Local Government and Housing, Howard Yawa
has welcomed the findings of the Public Protector on the propriety of an
advertisement of the position of a chef for the mayoral house by Moses Kotane
Local Municipality. The own initiative investigation by the Public Protector
followed public concerns raised by the advert that appeared in the Sowetan
newspaper of 29 October 2008.
The Public Protector observed that although the municipality had resolved in
August 2007 to advertise the position of chef at a salary of R65 561 per annum
together with positions of staff for cleaning, gardening and security services,
the municipality had decided not to proceed with the said appointment, as
municipal canteen was under construction and the idea was to rather appoint the
chef in the canteen.
Though he acknowledged that the advert for the position of chef in the
mayoral residence was open to an interpretation that the position was created
for the mayor's personal benefit, supporting information supplied during the
investigation convinced him that the creation of the position was intended to
safe on expenditure relating to catering for the mayor's official functions and
was not intended for Mayor Peter Molelekeng's personal benefit.
The Public Protector concluded that except for the wording of the advert, no
evidence could be found to justify the conclusion that the position was a
personal benefit to the mayor since the municipality did not in the end appoint
a chef in terms of the advert therefore "any potential misunderstanding about
the intention with post becomes academic". He however acknowledged that to
appoint a chef in the mayoral residence would always lead to the perception
that it is for private benefit of the mayor, unless explicitly stated in the
job description.
The Public Protector's finding is that the decision to appoint the chef in
the municipal canteen to cater for official functions of the mayor, removed any
misunderstanding of the intention of the post.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 387 3814
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018384 5426
Email: Lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued By: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
10 February 2009
