Former Stellenbosch municipality acting director dismisses racism claims

Former Acting Director of Corporate Services at Stellenbosch Municipality, Alexander Kannemeyer has described the racism allegations levelled against him as “a witch-hunt and vindictive attempt” to stifle or prevent his investigation against senior Infrastructure management personnel.

Kannemeyer broke his silence in a scathing four-page letter, seen by the Cape Times, in response to the Council’s September 5 resolution recommending his suspension.

Kannemeyer recently resigned from the acting director position. He now continues to serve solely in his role as Human Resources Manager.

Kannemeyer was thrust into the spotlight after a two-minute video clip, leaked from a confidential 30-minute meeting, surfaced on social media. In the video, he voiced concern over the lack of transformation at Stellenbosch Municipality, particularly within the Infrastructure Department.

After the clip was leaked, the DA and Solidarity called for Kannemeyer’s suspension. The issue was scheduled for discussion at an in-council meeting last week, where his response to the proposed suspension was to be considered. However, Kannemeyer resigned from the corporate services role.

In his letter to council, he described the timing of the video and racism allegations against him as “a witch-hunt and vindictive attempt and effort to stifle or prevent an upcoming matter (of which the administration was already informed) which I am investigating against senior Infrastructure management personnel where they are implicated in serious irregular activities and have been advised of”. 

He said: “Stellenbosch Municipality was already aware of the infamous social media video now circulating as early as late June 2023. The only difference is that the video was not made public until now and because the video has been released or made public now through social media forums, the Stellenbosch Municipal Council has chosen to concede to the ‘trial by media’ principle to save face in the media and other forums who have all jumped on the band wagon of misconstrued and severely derogatory information.”

He said it should be noted that the matter raised on March 13, 2023, was investigated, after grievances were submitted in June 2023 and July 2023, and found no wrongdoing from his side. “Subjecting me to a repeat of this particular matter amounts to transgressing the principle of double jeopardy. I deny that the wording used and or statements made by me amounts to racist statements or any form of racism. I further submit that the video recording used is a 2 min snippet of a 30 min plus recording of a recruitment and selection discussion which is taken out of context, misconstrued and in terms of the recruitment policy a confidential matter. 

“During the discussions, a particular scenario and response from a candidate was discussed and I reiterated the municipality's EEA requirements in relation to the Council adopted Employment Equity Plan for the period 2022 — 2027. Notwithstanding the facts will show that plausible reasons existed for my statements. The two complainants that laid an alleged discrimination dispute against me and the municipality received a certificate of non-resolution… from the CCMA and failed to pursue the matter further within the prescribed timeframe as prescribed by the Labour Relations Act. "

The DA’s national spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, said that by the time of Wednesday’s council meeting, Kannemeyer had already resigned from the Acting Director position.

“Kannemeyer was required to make representations to the Council as to why he shouldn't be suspended from the role of Acting Director for Corporate Services. The Regulations to the Municipal Systems Act require that a municipal staff Member of a rank as senior as Acting Director do that and he did make these representations. The fact that Kannemeyer resigned as Acting Director: Corporate Services however, did not negate the requirement for a Council Meeting to receive, note and consider the Representations so that item went ahead on the council agenda, but by then he had resigned from the acting director position already so there was no action for the Council to take regarding his continued service in that acting role,” Aucamp said. 

The ANC Caucus said they did not agree with the suspension of Kannemeyer. 

“The law is crystal clear. In terms of the Municipal Systems Act, the authority to institute disciplinary processes against senior managers rests with the Municipal Manager, not with Council. Mr. Kannemeyer is a permanent senior manager, not a director. The competency therefore lies squarely with the Municipal Manager. Any attempt to usurp this legal mandate amounts to political grandstanding.

“It is worth noting that in the recent special council meeting, including in-committee deliberations, both the Acting Municipal Manager and the Council Legal Advisor concurred with the ANC Caucus on this interpretation of the law and competency framework. The ANC remains concerned about the instability that the DA-led Council continues to manufacture in critical areas of administration, particularly Corporate Services, at the expense of sound governance and service delivery,” the ANC said. 

Stellenbosch Municipality did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

Cape Times