Democratic Alliance Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip yesterday came to the defence of two Buffalo City Metro councillors, who also had full-time jobs, saying party policy allowed it.
The Saturday Dispatch reported that ward councillors Roy Angelbeck and Dinesh Vallabh occupied permanent posts at Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
The newspaper has also recently learnt that Angelbeck was in the process of becoming a part-time commissioner of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The CCMA confirmed this, saying a probe would be carried out to find out whether Angelbeck disclosed this during the interview process.
Trollip said he spoke to both Angelbeck and Vallabh.
“We are a party of open opportunities for everybody. So it’s perfectly acceptable that somebody working in one job can make an application to work at another capacity.
“So if councillor Angelbeck is applying to be an employee of CCMA, we would encourage that.
“We cannot say people are sentenced to life in their current occupations. The DA is about creating opportunities so people can have jobs.”
He said Angelbeck and Vallabh had declared to the party and both confirmed that they had also declared with WSU.
Trollip said: “Our policy is very clear. Being a councillor is a part-time position unless you are a full-time position, which will be the executive councillor position and if you are going to hold any other form of employment, you need to get permission to do that but it is permissible.”
Vallabh is the ward councillor for ward 15 which includes Cambridge, Vincent and Haven Hills while Angelbeck is ward councillor for ward 27 which is made up of Gonubie, Kwelerha, Dwadwa and Sunrise-on-Sea.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said: “It was a political decision to decide for political parties to categorise their councillors as part-time or full-time councillors.
“The ANC has taken a resolution that their councillors will be full-time councillors. It’s a political decision.”
lIn the Gariep municipality, the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for the dismissal of Captain Mathee Nel as Venterstad station commander.
Popcru Eastern Cape head of politics Loyiso Mdingi said Nel was sworn in last month as a DA councillor but failed to resign as a police officer.
“He must be removed from the service.”
Trollip, however, yesterday denied that Nel was a DA councillor.
“Your information is incorrect. That position has not even been declared vacant by the municipality. Police officers may not hold political office.
“If any police officer applies to become a DA candidate, they are a free to do that but once they become elected they would then have to resign their position as police or not take up their position as a councillor.”
Nel could not be reached for comment as his colleagues said he was on leave.
Gariep mayor Ncedo Ngoqo said Nel was sworn in on June 30. “I can confirm this appointment of this police officer.”
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said the Constitution and the South African Police Service Act prohibited any member from publicly displaying political allegiance of his or her own choice.
“Departmental policy dictates that an employee must apply for authorisation to take up any remunerative work.
“Being a councillor does not fall in the category where authority would be granted.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
DA backs two councillors working at WSU
The Saturday Dispatch reported that ward councillors Roy Angelbeck and Dinesh Vallabh occupied permanent posts at Walter Sisulu University (WSU).
The newspaper has also recently learnt that Angelbeck was in the process of becoming a part-time commissioner of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The CCMA confirmed this, saying a probe would be carried out to find out whether Angelbeck disclosed this during the interview process.
Trollip said he spoke to both Angelbeck and Vallabh.
“We are a party of open opportunities for everybody. So it’s perfectly acceptable that somebody working in one job can make an application to work at another capacity.
“So if councillor Angelbeck is applying to be an employee of CCMA, we would encourage that.
“We cannot say people are sentenced to life in their current occupations. The DA is about creating opportunities so people can have jobs.”
He said Angelbeck and Vallabh had declared to the party and both confirmed that they had also declared with WSU.
Trollip said: “Our policy is very clear. Being a councillor is a part-time position unless you are a full-time position, which will be the executive councillor position and if you are going to hold any other form of employment, you need to get permission to do that but it is permissible.”
Vallabh is the ward councillor for ward 15 which includes Cambridge, Vincent and Haven Hills while Angelbeck is ward councillor for ward 27 which is made up of Gonubie, Kwelerha, Dwadwa and Sunrise-on-Sea.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said: “It was a political decision to decide for political parties to categorise their councillors as part-time or full-time councillors.
“The ANC has taken a resolution that their councillors will be full-time councillors. It’s a political decision.”
lIn the Gariep municipality, the Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for the dismissal of Captain Mathee Nel as Venterstad station commander.
Popcru Eastern Cape head of politics Loyiso Mdingi said Nel was sworn in last month as a DA councillor but failed to resign as a police officer.
“He must be removed from the service.”
Trollip, however, yesterday denied that Nel was a DA councillor.
“Your information is incorrect. That position has not even been declared vacant by the municipality. Police officers may not hold political office.
“If any police officer applies to become a DA candidate, they are a free to do that but once they become elected they would then have to resign their position as police or not take up their position as a councillor.”
Nel could not be reached for comment as his colleagues said he was on leave.
Gariep mayor Ncedo Ngoqo said Nel was sworn in on June 30. “I can confirm this appointment of this police officer.”
Provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said the Constitution and the South African Police Service Act prohibited any member from publicly displaying political allegiance of his or her own choice.
“Departmental policy dictates that an employee must apply for authorisation to take up any remunerative work.
“Being a councillor does not fall in the category where authority would be granted.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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