Bitou acting municipal manager Richard Bosman.
CAPE TOWN - The Department of Local Government is liaising with the Bitou Municipality to put alternative arrangements in place following the abrupt resignation of acting municipal manager Richard Bosman.
The municipality said Bosman resigned unexpectedly last Tuesday and had not been contactable since.
It is alleged that Bosman did not come to work and claimed he was working from home, but then sent in his resignation letter on Tuesday and has since avoided communication with staff and the municipality.
Bosman, who did not respond to Cape Times questions on Tuesday, had previously served as director of safety and security in the City of Cape Town and handed in a letter of “early retirement” last year.
Bitou Municipality mayor Dave Swart said Bosman resigned and had been uncontactable since.
“This will frustrate the progression of some of the actions that he was busy with while a new acting municipal manager familiarises himself with the outstanding issues needed to complete the pending matters.”
After the DA fell short of an outright majority in the local elections in November last year, a coalition with the Active United Front (AUF) and Plett Democratic Congress (PDC) was formed in the municipality.
“Attempts by outsiders and even senior staff members to destabilise the current coalition are ongoing. The resolve of all coalition partners to act jointly in the interest of the greater Bitou, however, remains robust – ensuring that the coalition remains solid,” Swart said.
He added that the vacant positions for municipal manager has been advertised.
Local government MEC Anton Bredell said they are yet to receive Bosman’s reasons for his resignation.
“We are aware of the sudden resignation of Richard Bosman. We are yet to understand the reason for this. In the meantime, the Department of Local Government is liaising with Bitou Municipality to put alternative arrangements in place,” he said.
Ikhwezi Political Movement (IPM) secretary-general Zwelakhe Mbatsha said they were concerned that the changing of municipal managers was starting to bring instability.
“Our concern with this chop and change of the municipal manager is that it’s starting to bring instability. Votes are taking place without proper procedures being followed.
“There are very concerning allegations against (the current municipal manager). We just hope the current administration is undertaking vetting of qualifications submitted by municipal managers, chief financial officer and heads of department’s,” said Mbatsha.
Cape Times