'Unqualified' candidate slated for top George council post

THE DA-led coalition government in George Municipality has defended its decision to recommend the appointment of a candidate Local Government MEC Anton Bredell previously deemed unqualified for the Community Safety and Mobility Director position. 

This has prompted criticism from opposition parties who warn the decision ushers in yet another major controversy.

Lee-Anne Meiring was put forward during a special council meeting on Monday, where opposition parties claim that the DA withheld crucial information that should have been part of the agenda item.

Bredell had, in a leaked letter which the municipality said was confidential, flagged the issue in June already, saying: “The statement made by Ms. Meiring that her position as 'Commander' is equivalent to a Municipal Manager, being the highest position, as accounting officer within the context of a municipality, cannot be supported by the abovementioned information. There are other positions more senior than 'Commander' and 'Section Head' positions. 

"The minimum prescribed requirements in terms of the applicable legislative framework to qualify as 'senior management level' experience is, among other things, the supervision of 'middle-management staff'. The structure provided by the municipality does not provide any evidence that Ms. Meiring supervised middle management staff during her tenure as Commander. In the circumstances, I still cannot support the acting position of Ms. Meiring.” 

The George municipality this week confirmed that the council had approved her appointment, pending her acceptance of the offer, and said the leaked letter was old.

“In line with standard practice, the appointment can only be made public once the preferred candidate has formally accepted the offer. With regard to the leaked correspondence circulated on social media, it must be noted that this confidential letter dates back several months. The matters raised were subsequently clarified, and the preferred candidate meets all prescribed requirements for the position,” said George municipality spokesperson Chantèl Edwards. 

However, when approached for comment, Bredell's concerns appear to have remained unchanged, as he was not aware of the recommendation for Meiring’s appointment. 

“The Minister has not received any report as to the appointment of Director: Community Safety and Mobility at George Municipality,” said Bredell’s spokesperson, Wouter Kriel. 

The GOOD Party was among the opposition parties that rejected Meiring's recommendation, citing serious procedural concerns. 

“The matter was brought to Council as a confidential item, yet crucial information was deliberately withheld from councillors, including a letter from the MEC for Local Government circulated on social media, which clearly states that the MEC did not approve the appointment. Withholding this letter from Council is a serious breach of transparency and raises fundamental questions about the integrity of the process. 

“Councillors were expected to vote without the full assessment documentation and without disclosure of the MEC’s objection. This is not responsible governance. It is a politically driven appointment pushed through at all costs,” said GOOD councillor for George, Chantelle Kyd. 

GOOD said they were reviewing all procedural irregularities, including the withholding of material information and the decision to proceed despite the MEC’s non-approval. 

“George cannot afford another politically engineered appointment in such a critical department. At a time when the Municipality is already under scrutiny for safety failures and collapsing oversight, the administration again chose secrecy, manipulation, and expediency over accountability. Residents deserve honest governance, not backroom decision-making,” Kyd said.

The municipality recently came under fire after  withdrawing a nearly R10 million recovery claim against Neo Victoria Developments citing liquidation, despite the death of 34 workers in last year’s tragic building collapse.

The four-storey building collapsed on May 6, 2024, burying workers beneath the rubble. The municipality announced it would no longer proceed with its claim against the company.

Cape Times