Ten opposition councillors abstained when Stellenbosch Council voted to extend municipal manager Geraldine Mettler’s contract by three months, according to Stuart Grobbelaar, Stellenbosch Municipality’s communications manager. Opposition parties raised concerns about her continued tenure and the process followed.
At a meeting held via Microsoft Teams on 25 August, the extension was approved to allow continuity while the municipality recruits a new municipal manager, with 23 votes in favour and 10 abstaining. The majority of councillors present, 50% plus one of those in attendance, met the quorum to pass the decision, allowing the vote to proceed, Grobbelaar said.
Stellenbosch Council debated the extension of Geraldine Mettler, Stellenbosch municipal manager’s contract and succession via Microsoft Teams on 25 August. PHOTO: Zeta Soule
Voting considerations
The African National Congress (ANC) and the Good Party (GOOD) were among those who abstained over concerns about the lack of a clear recruitment timetable, and governance relating to the selection panel.
“Our abstention should not be interpreted as support for, or confidence in, the proposed extension,” said Marius van Stade, proportional representative (PR) councillor for the GOOD party.
“Council was being asked to extend the contract without being presented with a sufficiently clear timetable for the recruitment and selection programme of [the] municipal manager.”
In addition to this, said Ayanda Tomose, the ANC councillor for ward 12 in Kayamandi:“There’s a legislative process that needs to be followed before appointing a selection panel.
Tomose expressed concern about the municipality’s political leadership being involved in the appointment and referenced governance challenges previously raised by Mynard Slabbert, former deputy mayor before his resignation.
Geraldine Mettler, Stellenbosch municipal manager, will remain in her position for three additional months following the extension of her contract. PHOTO: Sourced/Stellenbosch Municipality website
Municipal stability
The extension was considered within the framework of the municipal manager’s existing five-year contract and could only be approved by council, said Grobbelaar, adding that Mettler’s tenure had provided continuity across the municipality’s administration.
“This period of stability has contributed significantly to strengthening the municipality’s governance and internal structures, financial management and institutional capacity,” Grobbelaar said.
Should the recruitment process not be finalised, the municipality must seek approval for any further extension from Anton Bredell, the Western Cape MEC for local government, environmental affairs and development planning. “The municipality may approve an initial three month [contract] for the current municipal manager, but after that any further extensions need the approval of the minister,” Wouter Kriel, Bredell’s spokesman told SMF News’.
The 43rd meeting of the council notes that the recruitment process must be finalised to ensure organisational stability and continuity, a concern raised by both council leadership and opposition councillors. PHOTO: Zeta Soule
Mettler was approached for comment, but was “out of office on official business”. At the time of publication, she had not responded to the questions sent to her.
According to the agenda, the panel will consist of Jeremy Fasser, Stellenbosch mayor; Rudi Buys, the deputy mayor; Henry Prins, district municipal managers’ forum representative, and the audit and performance audit committee chairperson.