Stellenbosch Municipality mum on transformation

THE Stellenbosch Municipality continues to side-step requests to provide a detailed breakdown of its senior management amid growing concerns about a lack of transformation within the DA-led administration.

This follows a leaked video in which acting Director of Corporate Services, Alexander Kannemeyer, formerly the municipality’s Human Resources Manager, questions why the top-scoring candidate in every recruitment process is consistently a white male.

He specifically highlights persistent transformation issues within the municipality’s infrastructure department.

The DA on Friday successfully tabled a motion to terminate Kannemeyer as acting Director of Corporate Services, saying this step will effectively “demote” him, while the matter undergoes investigation and commensurate disciplinary action.

The ANC caucus on Monday said that Kannemeyer’s concerns about transformation were directed at the municipality’s permanent staff because “that's where the issue lies, especially in infrastructure”.

According to the party, the six director-level posts, which have reflected more diversity in recent years, are rotational and tied to five-year contracts.

These positions are subject to change as incumbents must reapply at the end of each term, aligning with shifts in council’s political leadership following local government elections.

The Stellenbosch Municipality once again failed to respond to questions about the racial composition of its top and senior management, which would effectively demonstrate how transformed its leadership is.

Dr Harlan Cloete, a research fellow in local governance and public leadership at the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State, said as the former HR manager, Kannemeyer’s role included advising the institution on employment practices in line with labour legislation and transformation goals.

“I think what’s good for the goose must be good for the gander and I think political leadership must then answer that. I think what South Africans want is consistency, they want fairness, we must not be hypocrites. There must be consistency in application of the law.

"Mr Kannemeyer was in his rights, it's expected of him as HR manager to voice his opinion. Management must decide. As an HR manager he is the internal adviser to advise the management. The municipal manager had the last say but as an HR manager to make sure the rights of employer and employee are protected.

“He must look at what the law says and advise and what Mr Kannemeyer did was merely expressing an opinion and he said I'll put it on paper and it will go to the municipal manager who has the final say because he reports to her. It's expected of him to express an opinion which he did.”

Cloete said that local government was the part of government closest to the people, “we need good managers, we must look at where there's over representation where there's under representation”.

“This is not about being anti-white, I don't read it as anti-white it’s about institutional culture which Mr Kannemeyer addressed. It’s making sure that everybody’s potential is recognised and everybody has a fair chance. In the process, we are also saying that those who have been previously discriminated against like women and disabled, are given a fair chance. What Mr Kannemeyer said was that what happens is you appoint a black person into a position then the people inside make the life of that person hell. I’ve listened to that recording thrice, the context, that entire thing was half and an hour… it’s two minutes that was leaked without saying the full context of that conversation. What that conversation talks about is that we are not moving forward in this department, the patterns continue. We are stifling growth and development of people inside the organisation,” Cloete said.

South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) spokesperson Hlalanathi Gagayi said: “In principle, Samwu is for transformation because the issue of the past needs to be addressed. The issue of diversity and the Employment Equity Act is something we always (stand) for, (based on) where South African history comes from. Which is why there is an EE plan which is there for all municipalities to have targets in terms of their transformation and diversity and the union subscribes to that.”

The DA did not respond to allegations of political interference in administrative issues.

Cape Times