Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Ernest Putsoenyane and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Marieta Visser.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Masilonyana Local Municipality welcomes the recent court judgment on the appointment of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Council’s resolution to accept and implement the Court’s decision.
Council has resolved to fully comply with the judgment by nullifying the appointment and initiating a fresh recruitment process by advertising the CFO position. This decision reaffirms that municipal appointments must be lawful, transparent, and in line with all applicable legislation and regulations.
The DA views this outcome as a victory for good governance, accountability, and the rule of law. From the outset, the DA raised concerns about the appointment process and opposed any action it believed undermined fairness, merit, and legal compliance.
The Court’s judgment has vindicated the position taken by the DA and demonstrates the importance of ensuring that all appointments within local government can withstand legal scrutiny. Public confidence in municipal administration depends on adherence to proper processes and the appointment of suitably qualified individuals through transparent and lawful procedures.
We commend the Council for taking the responsible decision to accept the Court’s ruling and avoid unnecessary expenditure of public funds on further litigation. The focus must now shift to conducting a credible recruitment process that attracts qualified candidates capable of strengthening the municipality’s financial management and service delivery.
The DA will continue to exercise our oversight role to ensure that the forthcoming recruitment process is fair, transparent, and in the best interests of the residents of Masilonyana.
We remain committed to accountability, good governance, and excellence in public service.