/ 3 July 2007

ANC to contest Truman Prince’s reinstatement

The African National Congress (ANC) is to contest the legality of the decision to reinstate Truman Prince as municipal manager of the Central Karoo district municipality.

Western Cape ANC secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha described the move as ”improper and wrong”.

”Under Democratic Alliance [DA] stewardship the municipality is bankrupt and has recklessly budgeted for a R3-million deficit, which includes an amount set aside to pay Truman Prince.”

Skwatsha said in a statement the ANC would do everything possible within the law to ensure the reinstatement of Truman Prince was not carried through.

He criticised the DA’s decision to allow Prince to contest his dismissal at the Central Karoo district municipality, saying: ”[The DA’s] decision to open the door for Truman Prince to appeal and win the case against his dismissal for improper and illegal conduct flies in the face of a senior counsel legal opinion and strong opposition not to do so.”

Skwatsha said he believed the DA had allowed the appeal because they had a secret agreement with Prince’s party, the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa).

He said the DA was reconstituting municipalities with minority parties.

”Events at the Central Karoo district municipality bear testimony to the fact that these coalitions are underpinned by secret, improper agreements — Achmat Williams in the case of the Independent Democrats and Truman Prince in the case of Icosa being the most prominent.”

DA spokesperson on local government Kobus Brynard dismissed the ANC’s claims that the DA had a secret deal with Icosa as ”simply not true”.

He said the party had sought legal advice and been advised that Prince had a right to an appeal.

Brynard said an independent appeal tribunal had reinstated him because they had found the procedure of the original dismissal, which was carried out by the ANC, had been flawed.

Brynard also said there were no secret deals whatsoever between the DA and other parties.

Following last week’s announcement of Prince’s reinstatement, the DA instructed its executive councillors in the district to withdraw from their positions, as the party would not be part of a government where Prince was in a position of authority. — Sapa