Oudtshoorn mayor’s DA hearing into alleged maladministration postponed

Oudtshoorn municipal manager Allen Paulse, left, and mayor Colan Sylvester, centre. Picture: Supplied

Oudtshoorn municipal manager Allen Paulse, left, and mayor Colan Sylvester, centre. Picture: Supplied

Published Nov 21, 2019

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Cape Town – Oudtshoorn mayor Colan Sylvester’s disciplinary hearing into alleged maladministration and other charges has been postponed.

The DA’s federal legal commission was to hold the hearing yesterday.

Sylvester said the 11 charges against him related mostly to “fabricated allegations” he was alleged to have made against municipal manager Allen Paulse.

It was reported that five or more members of the Oudtshoorn DA caucus were ready to resign should the party axe Sylvester.

Sylvester had informed the commission that he required more time to prepare for the hearing, and he requested a detailed charge sheet as the allegations were “vague and unclear”.

He said that his legal counsel was informed by the commission yesterday that the matter had been postponed to December. 

“We have asked for a detailed charge sheet as we have heard that councillors, the municipal manager and senior directors have been informed they have to testify against me,” he said.

He had filed maladministration and fraud charges against Paulse, and alleged DA leaders in Oudtshoorn had ordered the party’s caucus to remove the matter from discussion.

DA provincial leader Bonginkosi Madikizela said: “We are a party of due processes and any allegation must be taken seriously. It’s unfortunate that some people are threatening to resign because of this.” 

Cape Times

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