ANC Hessequa Media

15/08/2025

Geagte Inwoners van Riversdal en ons groter Hessequa area

As ANC Hessequa wil ons eerstens ons medelye uitspreek teenoor die families wie in rou staan vandag. Die gebeure die afgelope paar dae het ons as gemeenskap geruk, veral omdat dit ook een van ons stoere ANC families en oud ANC Raadslid, Kameraad Freddie Hartnick, se jongste seun was wie gesterf het.

As ANC veroordeel ons alle misdaad en veral soos in hierdie gevalle die moord van ’n mede-mens. Ons glo dat die gereg nou onverhinderd sy gang moet gaan nadat hopenlik al die betrokkenes ge-arresteer is. Ons glo ook dat die polisie ’n deeglike ondersoek sal loods om die skuldiges aan die pen te laat lyk. As ANC sal ons saam met die polisie en ander instansies werk om saam ’n oplossing te probeer vind.

Ons wil ook ernstig met ons gemeenskap praat en hulle waarsku om hulle nie te laat mislei deur mense wie almal nou die hartseer van die Hartnick familie wil uitbuit vir hul eie politieke gewin.

Ons wil ook die gemeenskap vra om hulle te weerhou daarvan om die polisie en ander instansies te intimideer, laat die polisie toe om hul werk te doen en laat ons die gereg sy gang laat gaan.

Uitgegee deur die ANC Hessequa Sub-Streek en Takke
15 Augustus 2025

17/07/2025

HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your application online at https://ancparliament.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home?c=ancparliament Include:

25/06/2025

18/06/2025

Priscilla Hendriks You still haven’t answered my question: where was the PA or the community in fighting for the traffic officers? The PA is making themselves a laughing stock by attacking Chris Taute. I am shocked by your actions and what you guys have done.

If you check under “traffic” on our page, you’ll see how many times we have posted and written to officials. Just recently, I suggested to Esme Petersen that we start a petition together for all the people who were dismissed. Yet, absolutely nothing is coming forward—no charge sheets, no affidavits, nothing.

And now you keep playing your pathetic blame game. You got the wrong guy, Chris Taute was the only Cllr ever fighting for anyone in this lame duck lazy council... but I guess you guys need some political brownie points ... Chris is not your enemy!

Regards,

Alexander Panzek

16/06/2025

*** Unfair Dismissal of Ms Sophia Cloete (Parney) by Hessequa Municipality

Petition to Object to the Unfair Dismissal of a Dedicated Municipal Accounting Employee
To:
The Municipal Council
Hessequa Municipality
Riversdale

Cc:

Municipal Manager, Albert de Klerk

Chairperson of the Council

Public Protector South Africa

Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA)

Date: 15 June 2025

Subject: Petition Objecting to the Unfair Dismissal of Ms. Sophia Cloete, Municipal Accounting Employee
Dear Honourable Members of the Municipal Council,

We, the undersigned residents and concerned stakeholders of Hessequa Municipality, hereby submit this petition to formally object to the recent dismissal of Ms. Sophia Cloete, a dedicated and hardworking accounting employee at Hessequa Municipality for over 17 years.

Ms. Cloete has consistently demonstrated integrity, transparency, and diligence in managing municipal finances. The sudden and unexplained dismissal raises serious concerns regarding the fairness, transparency, and legality of the process followed.

Our Concerns
Lack of Due Process:
The dismissal appears to have been executed without proper adherence to the Labour Relations Act and the municipality’s disciplinary procedures.

Absence of Clear Justification:
No valid reasons have been communicated to the public or Ms. Cloete regarding the grounds for dismissal.

Impact on Service Delivery:
The removal of an experienced accounting officer threatens effective management of municipal funds and could negatively affect service delivery, particularly indigent support services. Numerous public references attest to Ms. Cloete’s dedication and service.

Potential Retaliation:
There are concerns that the dismissal may be retaliatory, related to Ms. Cloete’s exposure of irregularities or opposition to malpractice.

Our Demands
Immediate reinstatement of Ms. Sophia Cloete pending a fair and transparent investigation.

A full and independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her dismissal.
Allegations of Irregular Appointments in Midvaal Municipality
We request a thorough investigation into whether Municipal Manager Albert de Klerk disclosed his suspension history from Midvaal Municipality in 2019 to Hessequa Municipality officials during his appointment process. It is noted that Mr. De Klerk was placed on special leave at Midvaal Municipality but resigned before the investigation into the matter was concluded.

Former Midvaal Mayor Baloyi said at the time, "that there were signs of some sort of systematic manipulation of the process regarding these appointments".

Allegations of de Klerk’s irregular appointment in Langeberg, a active citizenry group raised serious concerns about de Klerks appointment in Langeberg Municipality in 2021. They said that the charge brought against him of misconduct, dereliction of duties and fraud by Midvaal Municipality was unanswered as he resigned before the investigation.

A full and independent investigation into other dismissals and hiring practices within Hessequa Municipality under Mr. De Klerk since 2022.

Assurance that all municipal employees will be treated fairly and protected from unfair labour practices.

Public communication from the municipality clarifying the reasons for Ms. Cloete’s dismissal and the steps being taken to address this issue.

Additional Concerns Regarding the Municipal Manager de Klerk

His appointment in Hessequa Municipality in 2022, despite his suspension in Midvaal in 2019

Questionable expenditure:
Approximately R1.8 million spent on internal forensic investigations with no meaningful sanctions against guilty parties, found guilty of gross negligence which lead to indirect and direct revenue losses of R20 million.

Intimidation tactics:
Compiling dossiers on private individuals and spending municipal funds on unsuccessful legal opinions despite municipal legal advice, against Hessequas own legal advice.

Undue influence:
Attempts to hinder responsiveness to ratespayers’ queries and refusal of the Municipal Manager to meet with Councillors.

Harassment by HR management :
De Klerk is toleration of intimidation against former female municipal staff members. This is been on voice recording and was submitted to council.

Allegations of preferential hiring:
Preference given to candidates (his secretary) allegedly submitting insufficient required qualifications over a qualified candidate of colour, who submitted all required qualification including the N6 certification.

Mayority council voting down a further fully independent investigation into these allegations and a full independent investigation into de Klerk with considering a suspension in December 2024.

We trust the Municipal Council will treat this petition with the seriousness it deserves and act in the interest of justice, transparency, and good governance.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Signed:
Alexander Panzek
WhatsApp/Call: 079 707 6401

Click on the link and sign our petition 👇

https://chng.it/DfSqDhHsxT

16/06/2025

Petisie ter Beswaar van die Onregverdige Ontslag van ’n Toegewydde Munisipale Rekenmeester
Aan:
Die Munisipale Raad
Hessequa Munisipaliteit
Riversdale

Kopie aan:
Munisipale Bestuurder, Albert de Klerk
Raad se Voorsitter
Openbare Beskermer van Suid-Afrika
Departement van Samewerkende Regering en Tradisionele Sake (COGTA)

Datum: 15 Junie 2025
Onderwerp: Petisie ter Beswaar van die Onregverdige Ontslag van Mev. Sophia Cloete, Munisipale Rekenmeester
Geagte Edele Lede van die Munisipale Raad,

Ons, die ondergetekende inwoners en betrokke rolspelers van Hessequa Munisipaliteit, dien hiermee ’n petisie in om formeel beswaar te maak teen die onlangse ontslag van Mev. Sophia Cloete, ’n toegewyde en hardwerkende rekenmeester by Hessequa Munisipaliteit vir meer as 17 jaar.

Mev. Cloete het konsekwent integriteit, deursigtigheid en ywer getoon in die bestuur van munisipale finansies. Die skielike en onverklaarbare ontslag wek ernstige kommer oor die regverdigheid, deursigtigheid en wettigheid van die gevolgde proses.

Ons Bezorgdhede
Gebrek aan behoorlike proses:
Die ontslag blyk uitgevoer te wees sonder behoorlike nakoming van die Arbeidsverhoudinge Wet en die munisipaliteit se dissiplinêre prosedures.

Afwesigheid van duidelike regverdiging:
Geen geldige redes is aan die publiek of Mev. Cloete gekommunikeer oor die gronde van ontslag nie.

Impakte op dienslewering:
Die verwydering van ’n ervare rekenmeester bedreig die effektiewe bestuur van munisipale fondse en kan negatiewe gevolge hê vir dienslewering, veral vir ondersteuning aan behoeftiges. Verskeie openbare verwysings getuig van Mev. Cloete se toewyding en diens.

Potensiële vergelding:
Daar is kommer dat die ontslag vergeldend mag wees, moontlik verband hou met Mev. Cloete se blootlegging van onreëlmatighede of teenstand teen wanpraktyke.

Ons Eise
Onmiddellike heraanstelling van Mev. Sophia Cloete terwyl ’n regverdige en deursigtige ondersoek aan die gang is.

’n Volledige en onafhanklike ondersoek na die omstandighede rondom haar ontslag.

Aanklagte van Onreëlmatige Aanstellings by Midvaal Munisipaliteit
Ons versoek ’n deeglike ondersoek of Munisipale Bestuurder Albert de Klerk sy skorsingsgeskiedenis van Midvaal Munisipaliteit in 2019 aan Hessequa Munisipaliteit amptenare bekend gemaak het tydens sy aanstellingsproses. Dit is opgemerk dat mnr. De Klerk spesiale verlof by Midvaal ontvang het, maar bedank het voordat die ondersoek afgehandel is.

Die voormalige burgemeester van Midvaal, Baloyi, het destyds gesê daar was tekens van ’n sistematiese manipulasie van die proses rondom hierdie aanstellings.

Aanklagte oor De Klerk se Onreëlmatige Aanstelling in Langeberg
’n Aktiewe burgergroep het ernstige kommer uitgespreek oor De Klerk se aanstelling by Langeberg Munisipaliteit in 2021. Hulle het gesê die klagtes van wangedrag, versuim van pligte en bedrog wat Midvaal teen hom ingedien het, is onbeantwoord omdat hy bedank het voordat die ondersoek afgehandel is.

Verdere Eise
’n Volledige en onafhanklike ondersoek na ander ontslag- en aanstellingspraktyke binne Hessequa Munisipaliteit sedert 2022 onder mnr. De Klerk.

Verseker dat alle munisipale werknemers regverdig behandel word en beskerm word teen onregverdige arbeidspraktyke.

Publieke kommunikasie van die munisipaliteit wat die redes vir Mev. Cloete se ontslag verduidelik en die stappe wat geneem word om die saak aan te spreek.

Verdere Bezorgdhede oor Munisipale Bestuurder De Klerk
Sy aanstelling by Hessequa in 2022, ondanks sy skorsing by Midvaal in 2019.

Twyfelagtige besteding: Ongeveer R1.8 miljoen bestee aan interne forensiese ondersoeke sonder betekenisvolle sanksies teen skuldiges, wat gelei het tot direkte en indirekte inkomsteverliese van R20 miljoen.

Intimidasietaktieke: Samestelling van dosseiers oor privaat persone en besteding van munisipale fondse aan onsuksesvolle regsoorsigte teen munisipale regsadvies in.

Ongepaste invloed: Pogings om reaksies op belastingbetalers se navrae te belemmer en weiering van die Munisipale Bestuurder om met raadslede te vergader.

Teistering deur HR-bestuur: De Klerk se duldbaarheid van intimidasie teen voormalige vroulike munisipale werknemers, met stemopnames wat aan die raad voorgelê is.

Aanklagte van voorkeur-aanstellings: Voorkeur aan kandidate (sy sekretaris) wat onvoldoende kwalifikasies ingedien het bo ’n gekwalifiseerde kandidaat van kleur met al die vereiste kwalifikasies, insluitend N6-sertifisering.

Die meerderheidsraad het ’n verdere volle onafhanklike ondersoek na hierdie aanklagte en ’n ondersoek na De Klerk, insluitend oorweging van skorsing in Desember 2024, van die hand gewys.

Ons vertrou dat die Munisipale Raad hierdie petisie met die nodige erns sal hanteer en sal optree in die belang van geregtigheid, deursigtigheid en goeie bestuur.

Dankie vir u aandag aan hierdie dringende saak.

Onderteken:
Alexander Panzek
WhatsApp/Sel: 079 707 6401

Unfair Dismissal of Sophia Cloete (Parney) by Hessequa Municipality

22/02/2025

Geagte Inwoners van Wyk 8

Vandag is ek genoodsaak om hierdie skrywe wat ek aan die Hessequa Raad geskryf het met u te deel. Oordeel maar self as dit moet.

Groete

Chris Taute
Wyksraadslid vir Wyk 8

Speaker, Councillors, MM and Directors

6.13 ATLANTIC RAIL COMPANY STEAM TRAIN TOURS TO HESSEQUA

I am writing to you regarding the above-mentioned item which will be part of our upcoming “26 Februarie 2025 Spesiale Raadsvergadering Agenda”.

As I have apologised to you for not being able to attend this special council meeting due to personal reasons, I would hereby like to register my objections towards the recommendations for this item. I also ask that it be noted in the recommendations that I don’t support your recommendations.

Let me quickly explain to you why.

In my ward there are indigent grant recipients and other inhabitants, who are unemployed for many months, some are cancer patients for many months (can’t work), some owe the municipality a meagre R30 only, to name a few examples but their electricity accounts got blocked due to their arrears.
Currently the public is up in arms with the officials handling the income department of the municipality, over these actions taken by your DA council in your different policies. The public are under the impression that it is the officials who are stubborn and inhumane. The policies and budget was adopted by your DA controlled councillors with certain councillors, including myself, objecting to your decision.

I’ve previously plead with council about this situation. Specifically when one cancer patient in my ward was unable to work anymore and to pay his account. You with your DA policies still went ahead and block his electricity. While being a cancer patient his personal needs was much bigger than his municipal account. But still your DA council react inhumane and demand payment through your policies.

Now with this item you want to recommend:

RECOMMENDATION / AANBEVELING
1. That Council take note of the content of the report on the Atlantic Rail Company Steam Train Tours to Hessequa.
2. That Council approve the recommendations to this report.
3. That recommendation 2.2 of the Executive Mayoral Committee decision, Item Reference: 2038348 taken on 30 October 2024 be rescinded and reworded to read as follow:
That the supply of water, inclusive of consumption, truck rental and labour cost be at a 50% discount on Council tariffs, applicable to future Atlantic Rail Company steam train tours which disembarks with passengers in the Hessequa Municipal area.
4. That the provisions in point 3 be automatically suspended during promulgated Municipal drought disaster area intervals.

How can you be so inhumane towards certain, poor, disadvantage, sick inhabitants of Hessequa by forcing money out of them but you want to give a 50% discount to a very rich, privilege business not even being an inhabitant of Hessequa? I can never support such a recommendation over the plight of my ward’s people.

I will share this letter on social media too to make sure that the people of Hessequa realise that you are not a “omgee munisipaliteit nie” but one of the most inhumane municipalities when it comes to the poor, sick and needy.

Chris Taute
Ward councillor for Ward 8

Jack Simons ANC Branch, Ward 8, Hessequa
22 February 2025

04/10/2024

Geagte Inwoners van Wyk 8

Teen hierdie tyd is u seker al bewus daarvan dat ons ANC kantoor gesluit is. Dit was ’n hartseer dag vir die ANC, veral in Riversdal. Dit was in die einste kantoor waar ons eerste ANC kantoor oopgemaak was in 1992. Destyds het ons die kantoor gehuur by wyle Mnr Jackie Nainkin. Daarna het ons verskuif na die huidige Shoprite gebou, wat ook aan Mnr Jackie Nainkin behoort het. Daarna na Kerkstraat 72, Mnr AK Daries se gebou en later na die kantoor langs Mnr Clovis se winkel. Ons is daarna weer terug na die ou kantoor gebou wat nou gesluit het. Die ANC het grondige redes waarom hulle die kantoor sluit, wat ons aanvaar.

Jack Simons ANC Takbestuur, het besluit om ons eie advieskantoor vir SLEGS inwoners van Wyk 8 oop te maak en te probeer onderhou. Met fondinsamelingswerk en donasies gaan ons Wyk 8 Advieskantoor open op Maandag 7 Oktober 2024 by die Ha!Qua Jeug Sentrum. Ons sal dus kantoor spasie huur by die Ha!Qua Jeug Sentrum. Kantoor-ure sal wees vanaf 08h00 tot 14h00 Maandag tot Vrydag. Naweke sal die kantoor gesluit wees. Reg tot toegang sal streng voorbehou word.

Ons sal ook gebruik maak van die dienste van twee Para-legals, naamlik Mnr Koos Saayman en Mnr Neville Flink, wie die inwoners van Wyk 8 sal bedien met advies en hulp. Inwoners van Wyk 8 sal dus gehelp kan word met testamente, arbeidssake, eposse stuur, ensovoorts. Ongelukkig sal ons geen afdrukke kan maak nie, aangesien daar nie genoegsame fondse is om ’n afdrukmasjien en -papier te onderhou nie.

Ek en my wyksbeampte, Mnr Chandré Pietersen, sal ook nog steeds vanaf die huidige kantoorspasie wat ons huur by die Ha!Qua Jeug Sentrum, munisipale navrae en -sake hanteer vir inwoners.

Groete
Chris Taute
Wyksraadslid vir Wyk 8
Jack Simons ANC Branch, Ward 8, Hessequa