IN an attempt to uncover activities of corruption and nepotism in the municipality, the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) has asked the municipality for all its records pertaining to new posts that were filled in the municipality last year.
IN an attempt to uncover activities of corruption and nepotism in the municipality, the Unemployed People’s Movement (UPM) has asked the municipality for all its records pertaining to new posts that were filled in the municipality last year.
The movement recently filed formal requests for all the records relevant to the recruitment and selection of a cleaner employed by the Riebeeck East library and the municipality’s human resource manager.
Moreover, the UPM has also requested records relevant to the granting of Adult World an entertainment licence which allows it to operate as an adult entertainment outlet.
UPM media and communications officer Xola Mali said that at a meeting in December, Makana Mayor Vumile Lwana asked for proof to support the allegations.
“We had raised the allegations as part of our grievances with the municipality and then he challenged us to produce evidence before [what he called]the serious allegations are even considered,” he said.
Mali argued that for the human resource manager’s post, the candidate who scored the highest points during the interviews was not appointed.
“According to the schedule of scores signed by the selection panel, the successful candidate scored only 42 points while another candidate scored a whopping 48,” he added.
In terms of the Public Access to Information Act (PAIA), members of the public may request any information which is kept by any government department.
Using official PAIA request forms, the UPM requested records which include score sheets of the candidates for the two jobs, names of affected panellists and transcripts of the interviews. Municipal spokesperson Thandy Matebese said the municipal manager’s office has not received any such requests.
However, copies of the forms which are in possession of the UPM show that the municipality’s registry received the documents on 8 January 2010.
Matebese conceded that after receiving correspondence the registry department usually puts a date stamp on it but he could not say why the documents have not found their way to the municipal manger’s office.
