DA's Cilliers Brink criticises ANC's plans to remove independent city manager

Democratic Alliance (DA) Tshwane Caucus Leader, Cilliers Brink, has condemned what he describes as politically motivated attacks by the ANC and its coalition partners on the city's municipal manager, Johann Mettler.

Speaking at a press briefing alongside DA Chief Whip Ofentse Madzebatela on Friday, Brink outlined the party’s stance in response to the ANC's recent press conference announcing intentions to review and possibly overturn Mettler’s 2022 appointment.

“Yesterday I wrote to Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya to express our concern about attacks by the ANC and other parties in her coalition on the appointment of Johann Mettler as the municipal manager of Tshwane in September 2022,” Brink said.

“I warned the mayor against any move to have Mettler’s appointment terminated or to use baseless legal arguments to pressure him to resign.”

He accused the ANC coalition of aiming to “replace Mettler, who is an independent non-political professional, with one of their own deployed cadres,” and highlighted attacks from EFF Tshwane leader Obakeng Ramabodu as part of the wider political pressure against Mettler.

Brink noted that these efforts intensified after Mettler refused to drop the city's case against the “Rooiwal Five”, officials implicated in an irregular tender linked to businessman Edwin Sodhi.

“Whatever legal pretext the ANC coalition devises, the point is that the party doesn't want somebody in that position of municipal manager who exercises independent judgment and who doesn't bend to party political loyalty and pressure,” Brink said.

He defended Mettler’s credentials, saying: “As for Mettler's qualifications and experience, he served as the municipal manager in Drakenstein, Nelson Mandela Bay, where incidentally an ANC minister got him to lead the intervention team in that city in 2015.

''In fact, Mettler's experience goes back to the 1990s when he was involved in the drafting of the White Paper on local government.”

He confirmed that Mettler has since completed the required Municipal Finance Management Act courses, and the finance ministry or treasury had raised no concerns.

Brink also highlighted that no objections were raised by either the Gauteng MEC for Local Government or National Treasury at the time of Mettler’s appointment.

Brink further warned that the ANC plans to call a special council meeting to invalidate Mettler’s appointment on “technical grounds,” a move the DA intends to oppose through legal and council processes.

“The DA as a party represented in the council will oppose any such attempt. We are also consulting our lawyers as to advise us on how to act to prevent such a report from serving,” Brink said.

He called on Mayor Moya to clarify her position amid growing tension within her coalition. 

“The important point now is for the Mayor of Tshwane, Dr Nasiphi Moya, to make her position clear on whether she agrees with her coalition partners that Mettler should be fired.”

IOL reached out to the ANC for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel

IOL Politics