The ANC wants to push through jobs for pals in a top South African city

Werner Pretorius, a member of the Free State Provincial Legislature, said that the ANC administration in Mangaung is trying to rush through 250 new appointments.

Pretorius explained that these are permanent appointments of political staff into the municipal administration in the city.

“We have been informed that there is pressure to push appointments through quickly, including many this week,” he said.

“The process may be used to accommodate outgoing ANC councillors and political office staff in permanent administrative positions.”

He said that the positions are linked to the administration that supports the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC).

This is a mandatory oversight committee established by municipal councils to hold the local executive and administration accountable for public funds.

These positions are therefore important to ensure that municipal funds are not stolen through corruption.

The fact that the potential political appointments linked to the ANC are in the Public Accounts Committee raises concerns.

“We have already secured Mangaung’s approved staff structures, vacancy information, recruitment registers and recent organisational amendments,” Pretorius said.

“The documents do not yet prove the allegations, but they provide an important baseline against which we can now test appointments.”

He added that they will request from the city manager a record of all appointments, promotions, transfers, and acting appointments for the last six months.

This information, he said, will include the authority and recruitment process applicable to each appointment and promotion.

“We will also consider referring the matter to the Public Protector and other appropriate oversight authorities,” he said.

“If true, this is cadre deployment on steroids. Mangaung cannot afford another politically driven expansion of its administration.”

He added that Mangaung Municipality’s finances and service-delivery capacity remain under severe pressure, which will worsen the situation.

“Municipal jobs belong to the people of Mangaung, not to the ANC,” said Pretorius.