Quinton Mtyala reporting in the Cape Times of Friday 4th February


"The former manager of the Prince Albert municipality is taking her case to the Western Cape High Court.

“This comes in the same week in which Local Government MEC Anton Bredell dispatched a team of specialists from his department and the Development Bank of Southern Africa to the embattled municipality.

“Former municipal manager [Juanita] Fortuin was suspended on January 3 and was awaiting a charge sheet when she received a notice last week that she had been dismissed.

“'I’ve resisted attempts to appoint people who were not suitably qualified and for which there was no budget,’ said Fortuin.

“For this, she claims, she was sidelined by the politicians at the municipality.

“’When I got there (just over a year ago) their (administrative) systems were in disarray, but later I managed to gain the trust of the local community and ratepayers’ association.’

“Fortuin says she has been appointed to a position in Kannaland, another municipality which has been operating without a permanent municipal manager since last year.

Kannaland Mayor Nicky Valentyn said the municipality’s lawyer was still compiling charges against its suspended municipal manager, Kenny de Lange, over suspected financial irregularities. 

Meanwhile, six months after he was suspended, Swellendam’s municipal manager, Nico Nel, is still awaiting a disciplinary hearing.

“Itha Taljaard, chairperson of the Swellendam Ratepayers Association, says Nel had opposed a bid by a property developer to have the municipality pay for infrastructure required to connect to bulk works and the road network.”