‘I lied’: Cederberg council manager quits

Mayor Ruben Richards

Mayor Ruben Richards

Published Apr 14, 2022

Share

CAPE TOWN - A senior manager in the Cederberg Municipality has resigned with immediate effect after admitting that he lied about having a Bachelor of Technology in construction management.

The municipal council had instituted a qualifications audit in December to verify that staff were in possession of the requisite qualifications for their job/post.

The preliminary results of that audit were tabled to Mayor Ruben Richards at a meeting recently.

Richards said the Project Management Unit Manager admitted that he falsified his qualifications from CPUT.

“On Monday 11 April 2022, a senior manager voluntarily resigned with immediate effect, after admitting that he falsified his qualifications.

“Other senior staff were invited to prove their qualifications for the positions they hold in the municipality.

“As a result of this qualifications audit process, each staff member will be investigated to verify that they have not been appointed fraudulently,” he said.

Meanwhile the Patriotic Alliance (PA) withdrew its motion against Ruben Richards, deputy mayor Johan van Heerden and the Speaker, Josef Farmer, pending further instruction this week.

ANC Head of Communications, Sifiso Mtsweni said the ANC had no business in the collapse of the motion.

“The ANC has no business in the collapse of the deal between the DA and PA. We are in opposition in the Municipality, the PA motion has been withdrawn so we cannot comment further on it,” he said.

The PA did not respond to questions by deadline.

Richards said the parties may not table a similar motion for at least the next three months.

“The motion was not carried because it was withdrawn. We are trying to create a level of stability in this municipality and I am not saying people shouldn’t table motion of no confidence, but there must be reasonable grounds for that. I am happy that that’s behind us and it was withdrawn, and that should tell you about whether there was substance to it or not,” he said.

Cape Times

Related Topics: