Court orders return of suspended George municipal manager
The Western Cape High Court has ruled that the decision to suspend Trevor Botha was unlawful, and he has to be reinstated with immediate effect.
George municipal manager Trevor Botha, who is to be reinstated. Picture: George Herald
The George Municipality has confirmed its municipal manager, Trevor Botha, will be reinstated, after a high court ruling that said a council decision to suspend him was unlawful.
The Western Cape High Court had also ruled on Monday that Botha be reinstated with immediate effect. The municipality must also pay the legal costs on a punitive attorney and client scale, municipality spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose said.
Botha was suspended on 17 February following an independent forensic report – dated 20 December 2019 – by investigators Anthony Botha and Annelita Mentoor.
The report looked into allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption with respect to the Water on Waste project (WoW).
The report made damning findings and revealed there was “non-adherence to prescribed policies and procedures in respect of the appointment and payment of Mr Botha as a supervisor on the WoW project”.
News24 reached out to the DA for comment on Tuesday. It will be added once received.
Good Western Cape MPL, Brett Herron, said the municipality will now have to use local government taxes – which should be used for service delivery – to pay Botha’s legal costs. He lamented the DA’s “infighting and political posturing”.
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
For more news your way
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.
