Councillor investigated for hand in procurement

The George Council approved a recommendation to establish a committee to investigate a potential breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors by Cllr Marlene Barnardt.

- Alida de Beer

The matter relates to her alleged involvement in securing a caterer for the 2023 Craven Week rugby event, which is potentially in violation of Section 117 of the Municipal Finance Management Act and items 12(a) and (d) of the Code of Conduct, which prohibits councillors from being involved in procurement processes.

The George Municipality hosted a welcome dinner during the tournament, held from 3 to 8 July 2023. A report by BDP Attorneys, dated 12 June 2025, indicates that the then councillor Dirk Wessels (now a member of the provincial parliament) had obtained a quote from The Apprentice Restaurant around 1 June. Barnardt allegedly obtained a competing quote from Salina's Beach Restaurant on 23 June.