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Midvaal Municipality’s deputy municipal manager, Thom Peeters, who has been implicated in a jobs-for-cash scandal, has officially been placed on special leave.
The Democratic Alliance deputy manager was placed on special leave after a whistleblower reported him for irregular appointments in the municipality to mayor Bongani Baloyi.
Baloyi told News24 that he reported the matter to the council where it was decided that an independent firm would be appointed to investigate the matter. Council then found it fit to place Peeters on special leave pending the investigation.
Peeters will have to provide reasons why he should not be suspended by Wednesday as investigations continue into allegations that he appointed workers before conducting interviews.
Questions have also been raised around his wife’s position as she is employed by a law firm on the municipality’s panel of attorneys, according to EWN.
Baloyi further highlighted that an external audit conducted last year into appointments in the municipality also highlighted procedural errors.
He, however, conceded that the municipality was obliged to afford people the proper processes, hence the opportunity for Peeters to provide reasons not to be suspended.
(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane)
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