'UNQUALIFIED' CANDIDATE SLATED FOR TOP POST

'Politically driven appointment of community safety director pushed through at all costs'

- NICOLA DANIELS

THE DA-led coalition government in George Municipality has defended its decision to recommend the appointment of a candidate Local Government MEC Anton Bredell previously deemed unqualified for the Community Safety and Mobility Director position.

This has prompted criticism from opposition parties who warn the decision ushers in yet another major controversy.

Lee-Anne Meiring was put forward during a special council meeting on Monday, where opposition parties claim that the DA withheld crucial information that should have been part of the agenda item.

Bredell had, in a leaked letter which the municipality said was confidential, flagged the issue in June already, saying: "The statement made by Ms. Meiring that her position as "Commander" is equivalent to a Municipal Manager, being the highest position, as accounting officer within the context of a municipality, cannot be supported by the abovementioned information. There are other positions more senior than "Commander" and "Section Head" positions.

"The minimum prescribed requirements in terms of the applicable legislative framework to qualify as "senior management level" experience is, among other things, the supervision of "middle-management staff".