Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Irrespective of the judgement against Xola Vincent Jack in a sexual harassment case that will cost the ratepayers of the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM) R4 million, and the fact that he previously received a written warning for theft, he is still in the employ of the municipality as corporate services manager.

This is of great concern to most residents - both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Service Delivery Movement (SDM) have spoken out against the sordid and expensive saga and the status quo relating to Jack's employment at the DBNLM.

Samantha Graham-Maré, DA Member of Parliament, said that, in spite of Mayor Deon de Vos's attempts to downplay the role of the current local authority in the matter, they are as much at fault as the former Ikwezi Local Municipality.

According to the DA, the legacy of poor governance and outstanding legal issues that were inherited by the DBNLM in 2016 were detailed in the Kabuso Forensic Report on maladministration. 

The report was adopted by the new council and became the responsibility of the new municipality. The sexual harassment case in question formed part of this report.

The DA stated that requests were made for Jack to be dismissed but the municipality, continued to employ him to the detriment of the victim who allegedly resigned in order to avoid the trauma associated with seeing the perpetrator at work every day. 

The victim had to wait 11 years for justice to prevail. Despite his track record, Jack is still in a position of authority over other women and continues to receive a substantial salary with benefits.

Graham-Maré confirmed that the DA has undertaken to submit another request to the council for Jack's removal and will also ask questions in Council as to how the legal costs associated with this case will be reclaimed.

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