Pretoria - Former Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa has accused his successor Solly Msimanga of lying, maladministration, fraud and corruption.
Ramokgopa, as the ANC Tshwane regional chairman, held a media briefing on Thursday.
There he accused Msimanga of cronyism and not busting corruption like he claimed to be doing - but actually adding to it.
Ramokgopa revealed plans to file a complaint at the public protector’s office on Friday.
And next week he will take the maladministration allegations to the Pretoria High Court for litigation.
“In a brief period of under two months, the city has in fact lied to the residents and committed various acts of maladministration, the consequence of which is fraud and corruption. These acts render the posture of the DA’s mayor shallow and glaringly exposes the incompetence of the DA to manage the city in an equitable and transparent manner,” Ramokgopa said.
Msimang took over the helm after the August 3 elections in a coalition government. He has been accused of flouting the recruitment process when appointing staff members.
Ramokgopa began with the infamous blue lights - which Msimanga banned - by saying that Msimanga had been using the blue lights during all his mayoral engagements.
“Neither the executive mayor, nor a decision of the municipal council can give effect to such a decision as it falls within the competency of the provincial government to regulate such matters. Accordingly, the pronouncement carries no weight in law,” Ramokgopa said.
Other accusations include the appointment of the chief of staff in the mayor’s office, Marietha Aucamp, which he said was an appointment which did not follow any recruitment process, rendering it unlawful. Thus any remuneration received by Aucamp would be fraudulent.
Ramokgopa levelled the same allegation on the appointment of Matthew Gerstner, who is acting as the mayor’s spokesman. “It is unclear whether in fact Mr Gerstner is an employee of the city and if so, in what position he’s employed in. It is also unclear whether the post in which Mr Gerstner is employed has been advertised and whether due process consistent with the city’s recruitment policy has been undertaken in his appointment.”
The appointment of TJ Babane as a strategic executive head in the office of the speaker was also questioned, as Ramokgopa claimed his appointment was made with scant regard for the recruitment process.
Ramokgopa also questioned the appointments of Sam Ngobozi as executive head of public affairs and spokesman as well as the appointment of Stefan de Villiers as an executive head at the mayor’s office.
Gerstner said he was acting as the mayor’s spokesman as a “favour” to the mayor.
“I am not employed by the city and I don’t claim a fee from the city,” he said.
As for the other allegations, Gerstner insisted no wrongdoing had occurred and that Ramokgopa was basing his allegations on rumours.
“With the issue of the blue lights, the allegation is completely untrue. All the cars were inherited from the ANC government and they had installed the blue lights in the vehicles. They (mayor and city officials) don’t use blue lights. They sit in traffic and stop at red lights just like everyone else,” Gerstner said.
Aucamp was acting as chief of staff while the permanent person was on maternity leave.
He said Ngobozi and De Villiers’s appointments were still in the process and no appointments had been made. Gerstner refuted allegations of cadre deployment or cronyism.
“The ANC must accept defeat after being voted out in Tshwane. The public should not be fooled by a party that has only got cheap politics to employ to try to damage the name of mayor Msimanga, who is fighting corruption,” he said.
Regarding Tuesday’s city council meeting disruptions, Mapiti Matsena, ANC caucus leader in the council, said ANC members were defending themselves against attacks by members of the metro police and some had not been wearing uniforms. “The speaker did not warn the council that she was bringing metro police.
“The first thing they did was attack the councillors in the corner, even the female councillors. So they took water and defended themselves,” Matsena said.
Pretoria News