GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:
The GOOD Party welcomes reports that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) are now probing the serious allegations contained in the preliminary Vermaak Report into procurement irregularities in the Swellendam Municipality. This development is a significant moment for accountability and justice in a municipality that has long been mired in allegations of fraud, misconduct, and political interference.
According to a report by local publication News62, the controversial Municipal Manager, Anneleen Vorster, confirmed she is aware of the Hawks’ investigation, stating: “It is my understanding that the Hawks is investigating the allegations contained in the preliminary Vermaak Report. I have no idea about their progress in this respect.”
In February this year, the GOOD Party highlighted the findings of the Vermaak Report, which detailed systemic corruption and conflicts of interest involving multiple senior officials, including the Municipal Manager, Chief Financial Officer, and Supply Chain Manager. The report called for disciplinary action and criminal charges following the manipulation of tenders, one of which saw the same service provider unlawfully reappointed for nearly a decade. It also exposed a father-son duo with clear conflicts of interest, one advising the municipality while the other secured tenders using a false identity.
On the final page of Advocate Etienne Vermaak’s report, dated 1 December 2024, Advocate Vermaak recommends that the Auditor General be informed of the alleged transgressions, and “that consideration be given to criminal charges against those employees mentioned in this regard in the various reports”.
Despite the explosive findings, the response from the Democratic Alliance has been to shield implicated officials. The DA Constituency Head Leon van Wyk condemned the move to suspend Vorster late last year as an “orchestrated attempt to destabilise municipal services” rather than acknowledging the gravity of the misconduct.
The Vermaak Report imposes a legal obligation on the Council and Mayor to initiate disciplinary proceedings in terms of national regulations. Their failure to do so amounts to maladministration.
The people of Swellendam deserve a municipality that serves their interests not one that’s preoccupied with self-enrichment.
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