- The Matzikama municipality has been ordered by to comply with a maladministration probe.
- The order was handed down by the Western Cape High Court on Thursday.
- The municipality allegedly refused to comply with a provincial government investigation.
The Western Cape government has welcomed a ruling by the Western Cape High Court, ordering the Matzikama municipality to comply with an investigation into maladministration, fraud and corruption.
The embattled municipality has been at the centre of a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) probe into PPE procurement, and is one of eight municipalities under investigation by the provincial government's forensic investigation unit.
The municipality includes the towns of Vredendal, Vanrhynsdorp, Klawer and Lutzville.
In 2019, Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell received complaints of maladministration and serious malpractice relating to the Matzikama council.
"These complaints included the alleged irregular appointment of two family members of the executive mayor at the time. Three further complaints also involve allegations of irregular appointments and one complaint involves an alleged irregular payment made to a former ward councillor to resign in order for a by-election to be conducted," said Bredell.
Bredell in 2020 asked the Matzikama council to comply with an investigation into the allegations, but the council refused. This saw the matter taken to court.
"All requests by investigators for information and documentation from Matzikama and its officials had been refused and the council and its leaders had been completely uncooperative. This left us with no choice but to approach the court," said Bredell.
The Western Cape High Court has now ordered the municipality to comply with an ongoing investigation into maladministration, fraud and corruption.
Matzikama municipality mayoral spokesperson Tshepiso Segaecho said the municipality had not seen the court order yet.
"We can't comment until we have seen the court order," he added.
Bredell welcomed the decision set down by acting Judge Selwyn Hockey on Thursday.
"This investigation is in the best interests of the people of Matzikama and if there has been any wrongdoing then justice must be served. I am calling on the council of Matzikama to work with the independent investigators in ensuring the matter can be completed as soon as possible."
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