Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gamagara municipality, together with other political parties serving in the portfolio on Community Services, submitted an urgent motion to ensure accountability regarding the handling of general worker appointments. This follows a costly Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) finding against the Gamagara municipality.
A series of procedural errors, and possibly irregular actions, have resulted in what could be classified as fruitless and wasteful expenditure amounting to R977 610,00.
This comes after the municipality, which had advertised 14 posts for general workers, made 21 appointments instead.
The Human Resources (HR) Manager prepared appointment letters, which were signed by the Municipal Manager, on outdated letterheads and with an incorrect email address. The MM, who asked that the appointments be delayed to 1 July 2025, to coincide with the start of the new financial year and budget, failed to notice that he signed 21 letters instead of 14.
All letters were handed to candidates on 19 June 2025. On 1 July 2025, 21 people as opposed to 14, reported for duty.
Seven people were sent home and officially informed the next day that their appointments had been withdrawn. Six of the seven individuals took the matter to the CCMA, which found in their favour, ruling that the municipality had to pay them each a full year’s salary.
The municipality subsequently confirmed 16, as opposed to 14 appointments. Two of the individuals never applied or attended interviews and were apparently appointed on direct instruction of the MM.
The DA regards the matter as a serious breach of governance, HR procedures, and financial discipline.
The motion, scheduled to be tabled in the Council on Friday, 29 August 2025, calls for:
- Disciplinary action be taken against the responsible officials;
- The six excluded candidates, who have already taken legal action, to be approached and offered 12-month contracts so that the municipality can derive value for the expenditure already incurred; and that
- An independent investigation be launched into the role of the MM in the appointments.
The DA will demand that accountability is enforced, and that the residents are protected from the consequences of mismanagement and irregular appointments, where nearly R1 million could have gone towards service delivery instead of legal battles.
Regards
Henriette du Plessis, Cllr
Gamagara municipality