ActionSA national chair Michael Beaumont says that, although the appointment process of Tshwane city manager Johan Mettler may have been irregular, the party will not support his removal in a move spearheaded by its coalition partner, the ANC.
“In our opinion, there’s no question that the appointment process may have been irregular in that it involved too many people, contrary to regulations.
“In our opinion, and according to a legal opinion obtained, reversing that appointment is not the correct procedure for an appointment made three years ago,” Beaumont says.
Mettler was appointed city manager in September 2022, but then opposition parties, including the EFF and the ANC, accused him of being a DA proxy.
At the time of his appointment, ActionSA and the DA were part of the ruling coalition in the city.
Following the takeover of the city by the EFF, ANC, and ActionSA coalition, the red berets’ regional chair accused Mettler of divulging confidential matters to former DA mayor Cilliers Brink, saying this was a blatant betrayal of trust by Mettler.
This was, however, denied by the city.
In its bid to remove Mettler, the ANC intends to challenge the appointment by claiming that the panel that interviewed him was constituted illegally.
Challenge will not succeed
According to Beaumont, this challenge will not succeed, adding that the regulations provide a two-week window to reverse such appointments, not three years after the fact, as Mettler’s case would be.
Beaumont said that the Tshwane ruling coalition had agreed in a process that involved the mayor and the Gauteng MEC for Cogta.
He said it was “disappointing” that the ANC is communicating outside the coalition agreement on the Mettler issue.
“To be unequivocal, we do not support the removal of the municipal manager. We believe that stability in the senior management of the city is a key part of the formula that has now started to deliver success.”
Speaking to Sunday World, ANC Tshwane coordinator George Matjila said the party believes Mettler’s appointment was irregular, that he works for the DA to undermine the current coalition’s programmes, and that this is why the DA has been determined to defend him.
Matjila argued that the panel that appointed Mettler was irregularly constituted and that by law, if an interviewing panel is irregular, the appointment is deemed illegal.
“The DA wants to make an issue of that, but they know it’s a reality. They have been very consistent in making wrong appointments, and it’s not something they’ve only been doing lately.”
“We are raising these issues of irregular appointments. If it happens, he is removed; we are not worried.
“We want to follow the law to the letter; if it’s proven that his appointment is regular, the ANC will support him fully; if it is not, we will demand that he step aside.”
Brink dismisses ANC’s allegations
In a briefing a week ago, Brink said the ANC’s allegations that the interviewing panel had one more councillor than it should have had during the interview were false.
Brink said the regulations were clear; it was supposed to be the mayor and one more councillor appointed by the council, and there is simply no case to say the panel was invalid.
“Various municipal managers across the country have been interviewed by the exact kind of panel,” Brink said.
He added that since there is no case on this matter, the ANC has resorted to claiming Mettler lacks the required experience and minimum competencies.
“Metler is a highly experienced city manager; he had those competencies when appointed in September 2022,” he said.
Beaumont said that Mettler had done nothing wrong, and if he had, “the party would be the first to act”.
“The Randall [Williams] government did at the time, and reversing this appointment now would not be a wise or legitimate move,” said Beaumont.
“This has nothing to do with cadre deployment. If anything, Mr Mettler has a record of governing cities previously under the ANC.
“He has governed in municipalities led by the ANC, the DA, and now ActionSA. So there’s no evidence of cadre deployment — he is highly qualified for the job.”
