Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Tjaart van der Walt and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached picture here.
The DA notes Council’s decision not to institute disciplinary proceedings against Mangaung City Manager Sello More but rejects attempts to portray this as proof that all allegations were investigated and disproved.
While the ANC majority voted to accept the report from the executive mayor, the DA and other parties voted against it, as it was only supported by a 4-page unsigned report, seemingly an executive summary, from the independent investigator and the mayor’s recommendations failed to pursue the financial misconduct allegations, which were not considered by the investigator. This is while residents experience the decay from failed management daily in Mangaung.
The original complaint contained 18 allegations, yet the Independent Investigator considered only eight. Several financial-misconduct allegations were regarded as outside the scope of the investigation and were not considered. These should then have been referred to the Municipal Disciplinary Board for a preliminary investigation.
Councillors were also asked to accept an unsigned four-page report without the full investigation record, the DA’s evidence, or the Municipal Manager’s representations and supporting documents being provided to Council.
The complaint was supported by Council resolutions, Auditor-General findings, municipal records and formal correspondence, including evidence of more than 60 unanswered Rule 38 questions and proof of failures to follow the prescribed process regarding disciplinary allegations against senior managers, amongst others.
The DA will now:
- Demand the full investigation report, terms of reference and supporting record;
- Request the Municipal Manager’s representations and evidence;
- Continue to pursue both the investigated allegations as well as those not investigated by all means
- Request a full breakdown of the investigation costs.
- Study the report and any further documentation we request, and determine a way forward.
We respect an independent outcome where allegations have been fully investigated, but disagree with the conclusions.
Allegations that were never investigated cannot be presented as disproved.
The DA will continue to follow the evidence and pursue accountability in Mangaung.