By Zoubair Ayoob
Party hopper Visvin Reddy - who jumped from the Minority Front to the Democratic Alliance and then skipped over to the African National Congress on the eve of the elections - has been given a consultant's job in City Manager Mike Sutcliffe's office, reportedly with a salary of more than R40 000 a month.
Confirming the appointment, Sutcliffe said on Monday that Reddy had been hired on a three-month renewable contract to assist in the implementation of three projects. He was satisfied that Reddy was qualified for the job, which had not been advertised.
"I needed someone in my office to drive specific urgent projects and I believe he is qualified to deal with them. I needed someone who can work with all constituents. Reddy has extensive contacts in the community and has local government experience," he said.
Sutcliffe said that no tenders or adverts for the post were needed or issued.
Reddy will co-ordinate a project for the city's street children, a "Safer Cities" initiative and investigate housing options for the homeless.
He denied that his new job was a payback for taking Indian votes to the ANC. "I left lucrative offers from the MF and the DA to go to national parliament... I wanted to get out of active politics and to be involved at grass-roots level," he said.
Reddy said he had already met some of the city's street children in preparation for a document on resolving the problem.
Reddy, who in the past served as chairman of the Health, safety and social services commitee - which falls under the executive committee - will also be involved with the "Safer Cities" project. "We want to put a policy in place which will be a model for the rest of the world," he said.
The DA and IFP were not impressed with the appointment, labelling it a political payback.
"It's a disgrace. Ratepayers' money is being used to pay the ANC's political debts. We knew there would be a payoff, it was just a matter of time," said DA executive committee member Lynn Ploos van Amstel.
"What does he know about street children? He is a teacher by training, not a social worker. If it is true that he is being paid more than R40 000 a month, then that is an outrageous salary for someone with no special skills," she said.
The IFP's Gladwin Ndlela, who also served on the executive committee, said he was shocked by the news.
Sutcliffe said he was confident that Reddy was the right man for the job. "The proof will be in the delivery," he promised.
Neither Sutcliffe nor Reddy was prepared to comment on the latter's salary.