Shortly after DA councillor Alta de Beer alleged in a press release that Diamond had been receiving two salaries and holding two positions in two different municipalities at the same time, information to the contrary was received.
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DA demands answers on councillor earning two government salaries
The City Times received a copy of an official Ekurhuleni metro letter signed by Ms Naledi Modibedi, Human Resources head.
It states that “there was no remuneration paid to Mr Neil Diamond by the City of Ekurhuleni for the period between May 2019 and October 2019.”
Earlier today, de Beer alleged that Diamond was appointed as councillor in the metro in May 2019.
She added that he had been municipal manager (MM) of the Mbombela Local Municipality since November 2018.
De Beer said “What is, however, peculiar about these appointments is that he only resigned as the MM of Mbombela in July this year. Meaning that when Diamond was appointed as councillor in the metro, he still held his position as the MM in Mbombela.”
“During this time, Diamond held two positions in two different municipalities simultaneously.”
She added that “furthermore, Diamond has not attended a single council meeting in his capacity as councillor since his appointment in May 2019.”
In a council meeting on October 31, the speaker announced Diamond’s resignation from the Ekurhuleni Council.
He has since relocated to the United States.
Diamond spoke to the City Times and confirmed that he did not take up the position as a member of the Ekurhuleni Council in May and received no money from Ekurhuleni.
“This information was also made known to the DA and Clr Alta de Beer immediately when they issued the incorrect press release,” he said and added: “it is disappointing that the DA as vanguards of clean government cannot be trusted to share information truthfully with integrity and honesty.”
Diamond has instructed his lawyer to proceed with a defamation case against Clr de Beer and the DA.
Diamond’s allegations were presented to de Beer for comment.
*De Beer responded stating: “The matter has been handed to the DA lawyers and they are now dealing with the matter.”
The City Times will update readers as this story develops.
*De Beer’s comment was received after initial publication of the article.
