Wessie’s woes – Oudtshoorn Online
Drewan Baird. Oudtshoorn. 1 October 2013.
16h15. DA-raadslid Gert Niehaus, wat saam met Wessie die hoofkarakters is in die ENS-verslag, het uiteindelik sy kant van die saak gestel.
In ‘n reaksie op Saterdag se berig in Die Burger – Nog ‘n DA lid by Eden bekyk – sê Niehaus:
Hier volg ‘n uittreksel uit Die Burger:
Godfrey Louw, Eden se munisipale bestuurder, het gister (Vrydag 27 September 2013) gesê dat volgens ‘n verslag van ENS Forensies, is daar prima facie bewyse, dat Niehaus die gedragskode vir raadslede oortree het.
Die speaker, Doris Nayler, het gesê sy sal Maandag (30 September 2013) weer na die aangeleentheid kyk.
Mnr Niehaus is ‘n Raadslid van George en Eden Munisipaliteit, asook ‘n sakeman vir die afgelope 20 jaar in George, G C Niehaus, wil hiermee net aan sy kiesers en die gemeenskap van George bevestig, dat sy optrede deurentyd bo verdenking was en dat daar geen ongeruimdhede deur hom gepleeg is nie en by gevolg geen van sy optrede die gedragskode vir raadslede oortree het nie.
Die voorval in Die Burger verwys, waarna die Eden Distrik Munisipaliteit ‘n kwotasie toegeken het aan Mnr Niehaus se vrou, vir die verblyf van 5 dubbel slaapkamers aan eregaste van die 7’s Rugby wat deur die Eden Munisipaliteit geborg sou word.
Niehaus was tydens die voorval in gesprek met ‘n mede DA raadslid, in teenwoordigheid van die ontvangsdame van die burgermeester by die Eden Munisipaliteit. Raadslid Niehaus het die ontvangsdame gevra om ‘n kwotasie vir die geborgde verblyf van sy eggenote te kry. Mev. Niehaus het ‘n kwotasie ge-epos. Daar was ook ’n kwotasie deur ‘n ander privaat gastehuis deur Eden munisipaliteit ontvang, wat egter groter en buite die begroting van was. Dus is mev. Niehaus se kwotasie aanvaar.
Raadslid Niehaus wil dit pertinent en duidelik stel, dat hy geen ooreenkoms met George of Eden Munisipaliteit het om sake met hulle te bedryf nie. Die kwotasie was tydens hoog seisoen ingedien toe verblyf skaars was in George en sy vrou moes gaste skuif en wegwys (ten koste van sy vrou se besigheid), om te probeer om die munisipaliteit die geleentheid te gee om die borgskap te verwesenlik.
Die uitgangspunt deur raadslid Niehaus, was en is steeds, dat akkommodasie baie beperk was op daardie tydstip endat hy die munisipaliteit met hul finansiële beperkinge, daartoe in staat wou stel om geld te bespaar en om ‘n diens aan die gemeenskap te lewe deur verblyf aan hoë ere-gaste van die Sewes rugby toernooi te voorsien.
waarom betaal die Eden Distrik Munisipaliteit nie vir die verblyf, aangesien die kamers aan hul beskikbaar gestel is en gebruik is ook as dienste verskaf deur sy vrou.
Wat raadslid Niehaus egter verstom, is dat sy vrou die regte prosedure gevolg het, dat hy nie verantwoordelik was dat die kwotasie aanvaar is nie en dat hy nie deur die munisipaliteit ingelig is oor die ondersoek nie, maar daarvan in die media moes kennis neem.
Volgens Niehaus is daar verskeie aspekte van die ENS verslag wat tekort skiet, dus het hul geen onderhoud met hom gehad nie en baseer hul verslag op hoorsê getuienis en persoonlike afleidings. Om as so ‘n voorbeeld te noem, staan daar in die verslag dat Niehaus na bewering vir ‘n persoon wat die interne oudit gedoen het gesê het dat Van Der Westhuizen daar geslaap het, welke ‘n infame leuen is.
Mnr van der Westhuizen was tydens die Sewes rugby glad nie op die perseel van die gastehuis nie. Slegs die geborgde ere gaste van die SVD Rugby unie was daar. Hulle kan gekontak word op as buitestanders inligting oor die voorval te verskaf.
Wat Niehaus egter die meeste bekommer, is dat daar daar honderde duisende rande spandeer is op ‘n verslag, vir ‘n bona fida kwitasie van R8 000.00 wat sy vrou gegee het en wat die Eden Distrik Munisipaliteit gebruik het vir hul eregaste en wat tot op hede nog nie betaal is nie.
Hy word nou in die pers uitmekaar geskeur, en dit sonder dat nog ENS, nog die media enigsins met hom persoonlik gekontak het nie. Niehaus beweer dat hy daaraan dink om regsaksie teen die persone in te stel, wat hierdie situasie wil misbruik om sy eer, goeienaam en reputasie te skend.
Raadslid G C Niehaus doen ‘n beroep op die gemeenskap van George om hom die voordeel van die twyfel te gee, aangesien hy nie onwettig opgetree het nie of bedrog gepleeg het nie en alles wat hy doen tot voordeel van die gemeenskap. Hy is ‘n eerbare persoon en wil graag met trots sy naam in ere herstel.
Geteken te George, op 30 September 2013.
14h15. A reliable DA source informs me that the party intends to return Wessie to Oudtshoorn as Speaker in a deal between Theuns Botha, on the one hand, and Patricia de Lille and Helen Zille on the other.
No criminal or civil action will be instituted. No party disciplinary action will be taken.
I can’t vouch for this information, but my source is an informed DA functionary.
Drewan Baird. Oudtshoorn. 27 September 2013.
15h00. ANC Chief Whip Pierre Uys:
Discredited DA mayor should resign immediately
Eden district municipality DA mayor Wessie van der Westhuizen and his whole mayoral committee must immediately resign after an effective motion of no confidence in him.
The motion to have Van der Westhuizen removed as councillor was unanimously carried yesterday after a disciplinary committee found he breached the councillor’s code of conduct and should be removed as a councillor. Various corruptive charges were brought against him and he was found guilty by a multiparty committee of irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure as well as that he attended a DA function, but the municipality had to pay the cost.
ANC Western Cape local government spokesperson Pierre Uys says: “Van der Westhuizen was found guilty on a number of serious charges and is not fit to hold public office at a local government anymore. He is a dysfunctional mayor and all decisions taken by him and his mayoral committee will be questionable and in effect wrong.
”He must resign now. The ANC will vigilantly watch if he is going to be offered a soft landing or the DA will deploy him elsewhere.”
Uys concludes, “He breached the Municipal Finance Management Act, transgressed the code of conduct for councillors and should be removed as a councillor in both councils as he is unfit to hold such office. Further to this, criminal charges should be laid by DA speaker Doris Nayler as was recommended in a forensic report and all the other implicated parties (municipal manager Godfrey Louw and officials too) should also be charged accordingly. All the money lost should now be recovered soonest from Van der Westhuizen and all others implicated.”
14h30. eden Speaker Doris Nayler issued a media statement at 12h00 in which she claims to have recommended to MEC Bredell that Wessie be remobed as Eden Executive Mayor and as Councillor – both of Eden and Oudtshoorn.
02h10. South Cape/Klein Karoo ANC Regional Secretary Putco Mpitiza reacted to the Eden Council decision to expel DA Executive Mayor Wessie van der Westhuizen:
The DA led coalition has lurched with corruption and wasteful expenditure since they took over the administration of the Eden district Municipal Council. We welcome the decision to expel DA Mayor Wessie van der Westhuizen on various financial charges after a forensic report and a disciplinary process. In fact it’s long over-due.
It is evident that the DA is more corrupt than it always projects itself. It’s a matter of time and electorates will soon realise that the DA had been preaching lies all these years as being a corruption free party. The supposedly anti-corruption whistle blowers (DA) are now hell-bent to defend its corrupt leaders against all odds.
We are also shocked to learn that Cope announced that its councillor John Maxim will vote against the motion and also at the same time voiced the party’s unwillingness to remain a DA coalition partner in the Western Cape.
We have reported these acts of fraud; maladministration and corruption at the Eden district Municipality to the public protector but have seen no action yet.
ANC at today’s council meeting challenged the municipal manager to lay criminal charges forth-flowing from the forensic ENS report against Van der Westhuizen.
We await DA local government MEC Anton Bredell to act swiftly to remove Van der Westhuizen as councillor to ensure a clean and corrupt-free government. We hope Bredel will not place the interest of the DA political objectives first but rather improving the lives of our community and expose fraud and corruption in all municipalities.
2013/09/27 2013/10/01 DB
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24 thoughts on “Wessie’s woes”
2013/10/07 at 06:40
Godfrey Louw is in actual fact saying to his councillors and staff that they can commit fraud and theft as long as it does not exceed R100 000. What a disaster for a municipal manager! So the loser of the week is Godfrey” fruitless and wasteful expenditure” Louw! What a loser!
There is no difference between the DA and ACDP. The Freedom Front is a better option if I have to choose between these three parties.( Maar ek weet nie of die Mulders en Groenewalds hulle bruin nefie daar gaan toelaat nie). The ACDP has always supported the DA unreservedly their track record is there for all to see. Hiedie godsmense is skynheilig en iets wat ek nogal nie van Vryheidsfronters kan se nie.
2013/10/06 at 11:04
Wat ,waar is die ACDP as Party.Wat is die agenda van die sg, Christelike Party. Sal graag wil hoor van die Holy Cows Dot van Rensburg, Johan du Toit…ens.
2013/10/06 at 09:06
@ Allycat – “I agree that independent councillors appear to be the way forward”…. now you’re onto something. Hows about we ALL become INDEPENDENT COUNCILLORS!
2013/10/04 at 20:37
Hierdie Enstein van ‘n munisipale bestuurder kry ongeveer R1.4 mil ‘n jaar vir kak advies en fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
2013/10/04 at 11:03
En hoeveel is hierdie Einstein se salaris?
2013/10/04 at 09:10
In the George Herald of yesterday Godfrey Louw the municipal manager of Eden District Municipality and the accounting officer stated that he is not obliged as principal officer to lay criminal charges against Teflon Wessie since the amount in question is less than R 100 000. It is abundantly clear that Louw is incompetent or he is misleading his council and the public. The very legislation which he is supposed to understand and uphold gives him no discretion in this matter. Section 32(6) of the MFMA provides Godfrey that: “The accounting officer MUST report to the South African Police Service ALL cases of alleged-
(a) irregular expenditure that constitute a criminal offence; and
(b) theft and fraud that occurred in the municipality.”
Section 32(7) Godfrey provides: ” The council of a municipality MUST take all reasonable steps to ensure that A;LL cases referred to in subsection (6) are reported to the South African Police Service if-
(a) the charge is against the accounting officer, or
(b) the accounting officer FAILS to comply with that subsection.”
Godfrey the law is clear and unambiguous you have absolutely NO discretion, you are obliged to report the matter to the SAPS! Stop misleading your council and the public or were you instructed by Bredell and Theunsie not to lay criminal charges? This matter will be referred to the Public Protector and a criminal charge will be laid at SAPS against you in line with the subsection (7)(b).
2013/10/03 at 19:38
Okay then he agreed with ENS’ s report which implicates him. So why is now crying foul? He should have recused himself from the proceedings.
Die werklikheid van EDEN : Wessie=seremoniele burgemeester – Godfrey Louw= Munisipale Bestuurder + Uitvoerende Burgemeester.
2013/10/03 at 06:40
@ Andrew as indicated the tally was 24-1, so Niehaus did. The question is then if he did this due to caucus majority vote and if he would’ve voted against it if given the chance to
2013/10/02 at 22:08
U, your comment is the only one worth reading. But I agree that independent councillors appear to be the way forward.
2013/10/02 at 13:19
Het Ou Gert gestem dat Wessie as raadslid ontslaan moet word? As ek die antwoord kry sal ek reageer.
2013/10/02 at 12:48
Dis ongelukkig so dat gans te veel RAADSLEDE EN MUNISIPAlLE amptenare en hul pelle ‘ onwettig” geld maak uit tenders, kontrakte en ander dienstietjies gelewer, die DA, ja die DA inkluis.
Dit behoort totaal en al verban te word
Miskien kan Bredell en veral Theunsie vir ons meer hieroor uitwei want nou is hul kollegea Niehaus klaarblyklik innie sop. Dis dinge soos hierdie wat publieke vertroue in Munisipale, Provinsiale en Nasionale regerings verpletter met nog groot optogte en probleme vorentoe. Enige bewysde betrokkenheid gaan nog veroorsaak dat diesulke skuldige amptenare en hul pelle en side kicks onder dekmantels se totale boedel aan die staat verbeurd verklaar gaan word wanneer die Hawks eers betrokke is en ongerymdhede opdis – maar Theunsie weet dit mos al lankal, vertel dit tog aan Niehaus en ook weereens aan jouself knapie !!!! Hier kom n ding !!!
2013/10/02 at 11:15
Coincidence that Mrs. Niehaus’ quote was within the budget while the others weren’t. I’m 100% sure she was not privy to what the budget was when se prepared the quote…
2013/10/02 at 07:41
Kyk daarna Doris Nayler. Niehaus moet ook deur die dissiplinere proses gaan.
2013/10/02 at 06:26
Dit is alles in die papierwerk, vrinne.
Soos hulle op Enegels se; “The job is not done till the paperwork is done.”
Onder omstandighede soos Niehaus hier beskryf is daar ‘n wetlike prosedure wat gevolg moet word.
Item 5(2) van die Code of Conduct for Councillors, soos vervat in Skedule 1 van wet 32 van 2000 is van toepassing.
“5(2) A councillor who, or whose spouse, partner, business associate or close family member acquired or stands to acquire any direct benefit from a contract concluded with the municipality, must disclose full particulars of the benefit of which the councillor is aware at the first meeting of the council at which it is possible for the councillor to make the disclosure.”
In hierdie geval was die “first meeting of the council at which it is possible for the councillor to make the disclosure” blykbaar die gewone raadsvergadering van einde Maart die daaropvolgende jaar.
Die vraag is nou, het die raadslid dit openlik verklaar soos deur die wet verlang?
Indien wel, is daar geen gronde om teen hom op te tree nie.
Indien nie, moet hy verduidelik hoekom hy nie die gedragskode en wet nagekom het nie.
Hierdie transaksie moes ook natuurlik volgens die bepalings van die MFMA in die munisiplaiteit se finansiele state vir die betrokke jaar aangeteken gewees het as a “Related Party” transaksie. Om dit te doen is die CFO/MM se verantwoordelikheid.
Die MM was blykbaar deeglik bewus van die transaksie so ‘n mens moet aanneem dat dit wel gedoen is.
Indien nie, onstaan die vraag hoekom dit nie gedoen is nie?
2013/10/01 at 17:19
If Mr AVBOB read the ENS report,even the one that was part of the hearing bundle for any public member to get, he will see that his statement today and the facts therein do not corelate- and that ENS’s forensic investigation highlights quite a few errors on this 7’s matter
ENS Forensics is a nationally respected firm- so one can expect them to work on proof,not on hear say as he is trying to point out.
And if Mr AVBOB really wants to be thruthfull, perhaps he needs to explain to the community why he is actually doing his press statement- is it perhaps that he could also be one of those Wessie promised a MAYCO post in exchange for siding with him to the end,however it may unfold?
2013/10/01 at 17:18
If this is true, the DA is also corrupt? The Nel case, and now this Wessie case. No more DA!
liberated whitey says:
2013/10/01 at 15:19
If that happens, the DA can forget about my vote, ever again. If this is how the DA wants to manage local government, independent candidates for local government will be the only way to save local government in general.
2013/10/01 at 14:50
If MEC Bredell does not act then we have to request the National Minister to act in terms of section 106 of Systems Act. Louw is obliged ito the Finance Management Act to lay criminal charges. If he fails or refused then criminal charges MUST be laid against him. Read also the Prevention of Corrupt Activities Act in this regard.
2013/09/27 at 19:30
Arme Wessie ,daar is niks meer oor van die con nie. Sy nageslag sal beslis nie trots wees op sy legacy nie wat lees soos `n riller.Geldgierigheid,bedrog,smokkelaar,uitverkoper,omkoper alles deel van sy legacy. Selfs in die apartheidsjare het hy sy comrades uitverkoop vir `n paar silwerstukke. Die kat met sewe lewens gaan tog een of ander tyd sy gat sien. Watter regdenkende kan hom/haar nog met hierdie gesiglose bedrieer assosieer.
2013/09/27 at 08:58
Let me remind the ANC, they voted in favour of Wessie during the disciplinary stage. The DA council acted against the corrupt member. Unlike councils under ANC control(Oudtshoorn), where corrupt Mayors are kept safe by ANC leaders.
2013/09/27 at 08:35
Bredell, ons wag !
Doen tog een laaste regte ding voor jy bedank !
Die wereld se oe is op jou rakende die Wessie saga, wat gaan dit wees Tonie ????
2013/09/27 at 08:07