Bitou municipal manager faces suspension

19 April 2006

Allegations of corruption, theft and fraud against George Seitisho, the Bitou municipal manager in Plettenberg Bay, which has been dragging on for nearly three years, is finally coming to an end. A government appointed Special Investigating Unit (SIU) today recommended that the manager be suspended.

This was made when the provincial housing department in the Western Cape appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). The SIU recommends a police investigation into the allegations and says the Bitou Municipality must institute disciplinary action against Seitisho.

An Auditor-General report on municipalities in 2003 revealed that Seitisho used municipal credit cards and petrol cards for himself and Ewan Wildeman, the mayor, without council approval. The report also indicates that Seitisho failed to disclose to the municipality a receipt of overpayment in excess of a daily allowance for an official trip to Europe. The figure amounts to almost R15 000.

Richard Dyantyi, the MEC for local government and housing, has been given 30 days to give a full report on the matter.

Source: SABC News

« back