Convicted fraudster and money-launderer Marius Botha, who is also the current Mossel Bay Municipality chief financial officer, has until the end of today to give reasons why his contract should not be terminated.
This comes after the disgraced Botha, responsible for the prevention of unauthorised, irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure, maintaining high levels of revenue collection and safeguarding the municipality's assets, was recently convicted by the Williston Magistrate's Court.
The charges against Botha related to his spell as chief financial officer of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality in Williston in the Northern Cape.
The Mossel Bay Municipality was aware of the charges Botha faced when he took charge of the council's finances three years ago. But the municipality's woes are set to worsen, as opposition parties threatened to approach the office of the public protector to investigate Botha’s appointment.
James-Brent Styan, spokesperson for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell, refused to comment on the matter and referred the questions to the municipality.
Mossel Bay mayor Harry Levendal said: “Mr Botha declared the charges against him when he applied for the position at the Mossel Bay Municipality and it was agreed that a clause would be included in his contract that it is subject to termination with immediate effect at the sole discretion of the Mossel Bay Municipality should he be found guilty of any criminal offence relating to his previous employment."
Levendal said Botha acquitted himself well of his task at Mossel Bay Municipality, which achieved consecutive clean audits under his guardianship.
“It is therefore only fair that he is given the opportunity to state his case, bearing in mind also that he still has the right to appeal against the conviction.
"Council will consider his response at a Special Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 31 (tomorrow).”
Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa's Dawid Kamfer said: "It is very worrying. The DA employs this guy when he was already in court.
"The MEC signed off the application of this guy when he applied for this position. We will be approaching the public protector for investigation.”