Kouga Municipality has defended the appointment of the Mayor’s daughter as part of the Corporate and Digital Services Directorate saying there is no conflict of interest as the appointment was fair, free, and transparent.
However, this is being disputed by the municipality’s biggest opposition party.
Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks’ daughter, Nikita Hendricks, was appointed as an Auxiliary Officer effective 3 January.
The role which can pay over R 300 000 per year entails the planning for the provision of catering for meetings of the Council, its Committees, and Caucus Meetings of the political components of the Council.
It also includes the procurement of maintenance and cleansing stock, refreshments for the office, and also coordinating the administrative dimension associated with the pre-planning for meetings.
Both Hendricks and his daughter referred all questions regarding the appointment to the municipal spokesperson, Monique Basson.
She said that the position was advertised internally on 14 December 2022, adding that the incumbent, is suitably qualified for the position as she was previously employed as a ward assistant at the Kouga Municipality.
She said two people had applied for the post and the incumbent with the highest score was employed.
“The recruitment process was free, fair, transparent and in adherence with the Municipal Staff Regulations, as well as the Recruitment Policy of the municipality.”
She said the municipal regulations and policy do not prohibit any family member of an official or councillor to apply for a position within the municipality.
However, ANC chief whip, Councillor Vuyani Zana, alleges that the town "is marred with lots of illegitimate appointments”.
He said Hendricks did not qualify for the ward assistant post, adding that she was a ward assistant in Ward 12 in St Francis while living in Ward 15.
“As opposition, we are against this appointment, because she did not qualify for the first post as she did not stay in that Ward. And for this Auxiliary Officer post, there was someone who had been acting in the position for close to a year but they were overlooked,” he said.
Zana further questioned whether Hendricks had the prerequisite two years of experience as required, saying the ANC would meet with other opposition parties on the matter.
He said the ANC in Kouga wants the position to be re-advertised to give others a fair chance at applying for the job.
