Jobs for Pals, in Dying Days

Statement by Werner Pretorius MPL – DA Mangaung Mayoral Candidate:

The DA has received serious allegations that the ANC administration in Mangaung is attempting to rush through the permanent appointment of political staff into the municipal administration, potentially involving up to 250 posts.

We have further been informed that there is severe pressure to push appointments through, including this week, and that the process may be used to accommodate outgoing ANC councillors and political-office staff in permanent administrative positions. Concerns include positions linked to the administration supporting MPAC.

These allegations are extremely serious. Through formal enquiries, we have already secured Mangaung’s approved staff structures, vacancy information, recruitment registers and recent organisational amendments. The documents do not yet prove the allegations, but they provide an important baseline against which we can now test appointments.

We will request from the city manager a complete record of all appointments, promotions, transfers and acting appointments made during the six months preceding the date of response, including the authority and recruitment process applicable to each.

We will also consider referring the matter to the Public Protector and other appropriate oversight authorities.

If true, this is cadre deployment on steroids. Mangaung cannot afford another politically driven expansion of its administration while its finances and service-delivery capacity remain under severe pressure.

Municipal jobs belong to the people of Mangaung, not to the ANC.

Each resident must ensure that they, their neighbours and family vote for the DA to become the biggest party in Mangaung on 4 November to stop cadre deployment and professionalise Mangaung.