Drama erupted this week after the DA appointed a previously fired Stefan de Villiers to the position of executive director in Ekurhuleni metro.
De Villiers previously served in the same position when he was appointed by the former City of Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga.
ANC Gauteng provincial secretary Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza accused De Villiers of being unqualified for the post, stating that he is only qualified as a body builder.
Nciza said his party is concerned by the impunity with which the DA continues to undermine the rule of law in South Africa.
“This has recently been evidenced by the rehiring of a body builder who was fired in the City of Tshwane after being employed by the metro’s disgraced former mayor, Solly Msimanga,” said Nciza.
“Irrefutable empirical evidence indicates that the DA is once again employing its incompetent, unqualified, inexperienced, and unskilled white members at the nerve centre of government administration.
“The party is breaking the law and flouting recruitment policies that were implemented to ensure the city’s human capital has the necessary skills and capabilities to ensure its effective functioning.”
Nciza said the appointment of De Villiers by the DA and its coalition partners suggests that if you are white, you do not need qualifications to be appointed to a managerial post.
“By rehiring a white male body builder without any qualifications in a position that requires 12 years of experience and a post-matric qualification, the DA is contributing to the further racialisation of an already segmented labour market.
“It is also spitting on the faces of the multitudes of young graduates, a majority of whom are black and sitting home with their qualifications while being denied an opportunity to participate in the labour market. This arrogant and callous demonstration of white privilege is unthinkable,” said Nciza.
The ANC’s provincial executive committee also called for the immediate removal of De Villiers from the employ of the City of Ekurhuleni.
DA Gauteng leader Msimanga distanced himself from De Villiers’ appointment and pointed Sunday World to Ekurhuleni mayor’s office “to give you a comment on how they work on their processes regarding the employment of people in their office”.
Reminded that De Villiers was once employed in his office during his tenure as the mayor of Tshwane, Msimanga said: “Ha ke hire batho authi yaka [I don’t employ people, my friend].
“There are processes being followed when people are hired in strategic positions and in administration of municipalities. The ANC is trying to be a little bit nauseating here.”
The spokesperson for Ekurhuleni mayor Tania Campbell, Phakamile Mbengashe, said: “Mr De Villiers was employed as a strategic advisor on service delivery.”
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