"Don't forget that Africans say, 'a foot does not smell where its going'. "Wheels of justice will turn one day. Today it's me but tomorrow it will be you."
"Don't forget that Africans say, 'a foot does not smell where its going'. "Wheels of justice will turn one day. Today it's me but tomorrow it will be you."
These may be the words that earlier this year stumped a Council team tasked with investigating Councillor Paul Notyawa's alleged flouting of local government legislation.
Grocott's Mail reported last week that Notyawa, a member of the Mayoral Committee for Makana and portfolio chairperson for Local Economic Development, was investigated following complaints that he was seldom in his office and frequently missed meetings.
Notyawa insisted on his right to defend himself in his mother tongue and his answer to the investigating team stumped them. According to task team head, Councillor Julia Wells, it was written in such deep Xhosa idiom that no one among the municipal staff could translate it.
Grocott's Mail emailed a copy of the letter to lecturer in African Languages Studies at Rhodes, Thandeka Mapi.
Less than an hour later, she returned by email a summary of its contents.
"No it's not very difficult to understand," was Mapi's comment. The most difficult part, she said, was reading Notyawa's handwriting.
"Even the metaphors I found them simple. However, for some people who always prefer English, especially in a written communication, such metaphors might be difficult to understand."
In a special council meeting on 22 October Notyawa was given 30 working days to decide between his job as a union lawyer or his position on the Mayoral Council. Monday 3 December is his deadline.
Thandeka Mapi explains key parts of Notyawa's letter:
The letter accuses him of breaking the law by having two positions that he holds. He retorts by stating that these accusations are very unfair and have no basis. He adds that they should say he's in two positions without permission from the council and not say its wrong to hold two positions.
He quotes law documents (in English) to further clarify this: "A councillor who is a full-time councillor may not undertake any other paid work except with the consent of a municipal council, which consent shall not be unreasonably be withheld."
He further says, this person in charge must advise her councillors to make sure that they translate and understand the rules and the laws of the council.
He says he submitted documents acknowledging his interest in getting extra money. Twelve days later the committee decided to make him a member of the mayoral committee, knowing fully well about how he survives, in that they were giving him a second position.
He says that ever since he started, no one told him anything, except for Grocott's and the DA. He then asks: "What happened with Julie Wells? Did you advise her to leave one of her positions? Its your job to advise your councillors and to make sure that all the important laws are known and clear to everyone. I will wait for you to tell me when did the council withdraw this decision of allowing me to keep both positions, and make sure that you respond ASAP, because I'm ready to resign from the mayoral committee today, and if you wish I can leave as a councillor as well."
He says: "The manner in which you've handled this tells me that its required that I resign, so please make it quick. But don't forget that Africans say 'a foot does not smell where its going'. Wheels of justice will turn one day. Today it's me but tomorrow it will be you."
