Dear Editor
The DA has been reliably informed of 16 serious charges laid against the former Municipal Manager in Oudtshoorn Municipality, Ronnie Lottering. He faced a disciplinary hearing on the 14 and 15 June 2016. It is expected that the process will be concluded this week.
The charges against Mr Lottering relate to misconduct when he served as acting municipal manager for two years before the council was placed under administration last year. The Municipality was run by a coalition with the ANC and the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (ICOSA) from 2011, and refused to relinquish the power when losing its majority to the DA and COPE in a by-election in 2013.
His conduct has had dire consequences for the Municipality. It is estimated that the municipality lost millions of rands as a result of mismanagement by the former ANC/ICOSA government.
As DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, I will write to the Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Local Planning, Anton Bredell, to request that justice be served and that Mr. Lottering faces serious consequences for his grave abuse of power if found guilty.
The administration intervention in the Oudtshoorn Municipality will be extended until after election of the new Council on 3 August 2016. Following the election, the Department will request that the Provincial Cabinet implements a three month support plan after the election of the new Council.
The people of Oudtshoorn have for too long been suffering from the maladministration caused by the former ANC government there. I therefore welcome the progress made with the administration intervention, and look forward to the collaboration with a new DA-government after the election on 3 August, confident it will bring a stable and transparent administration to Oudtshoorn.
Regards
Masizole Mnqasela MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government
