The people are gatvol, Mr Mayor

Update

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Forum for Anti-corruption and Service Delivery in Oudtshoorn (FASO) handed over a memorandum of grievances to the executive mayor of Oudtshoorn, Chad Louw, at the municipal offices on Monday morning at 11:00.

A group of unhappy residents accompanied the Faso delegation, led by Emile Cupido, founder of Faso, who presented the mayor with the memorandum of grievances summarised in an 8-page document.

Faso gave the mayor seven working days to provide them with written feedback. Failing which, they will take further steps against him.

Cupido told Louw they know he may be tempted by his political and legal advisors to use the municipality's resources to fight these serious allegations.

"Rest assured that we will ask the courts to hold you personally liable for any legal costs as this memorandum serves as a medium to voice the citizens of the Greater Oudtshoorn's concerns."

The grievances include, amongst others, serious allegations of nepotism, fraud, financial irregularities, mismanagement, irregular appointments, tender corruption and service delivery failures.

Cupido said Faso and the broader communities of Oudtshoorn demanded of Louw to cancel the contract of acting municipal manager, Walter Hendricks, with immediate effect and to make sure that all councillors who appointed him pay back the taxpayers' monies.

"It is public knowledge that Mr Hendricks is currently facing criminal charges for tender corruption and fraud in George."

The Structures Amendment Act prohibits any senior official charged for criminal activity at a municipality (George) while the case has not been finalised.

"This places you as the executive mayor, who voted for his appointment and signed his appointment letter, legally liable for this irregular expenditure."

Faso also wants the Webber and Wentzel Report to be released and that action must be taken against those being implicated since millions of taxpayers' money were spent on the report.

Furthermore, they want Louw to institute a thorough investigation into serious allegations of nepotism, fraud, financial irregularities and mismanagement, irregular appointments and tender corruption.

Cupido emotionally challenged Louw to make his qualifications public as "proof that you did not mislead the public. And you must provide us with a clear plan of action to address these service delivery failures.

"The challenge for you now is to demonstrate to us, as the citizens of Oudtshoorn, that you will choose Oudtshoorn above political influence and what is in the best interest of the people. It has become clear that under your leadership as the executive mayor of Oudtshoorn the old guard of corruption has clearly shown their teeth and intentions."

A group of unhappy residents accompanied the Faso delegation: