By Thys Khiba – The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape has accused Kouga municipality mayor, Horatio Hendricks of nepotism after his 22-year-old daughter, NikitaHendricks started working at the municipality this year.
Hendricks [daughter] was hired as an auxiliary officer for the municipality starting on 3 January 2023.
It is alleged that the municipality employed Hendricks over a candidate who was shortlisted for and acted on the same position for a year.
By Thys Khiba – The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Capehas accused Kouga municipality mayor, Horatio Hendricks of nepotism after his 22-year-old daughter, NikitaHendricks started working at the municipality this year.
This comes after the mayor Hendricks received backlash from opposition parties like the ANC and UDM in the province for hiring his 22–year–old daughter in the municipality.
Trying to defend the decision, the affected municipality in the Eastern Cape under DA, indicated all recruitment process were followed in the appointment of mayor’s daughter as an employee in the municipality.
Meanwhile the criticised mayor says he had no hand in the recruitment processes. Hendricks confirmed that the processes were free, fair and transparent.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) claims that the mayor used his executive powers to influence the processes and said his daughter didn’t qualify for the position as she has no drivers licence and 2 years experience for the post compared to the other candidate.
The ANC accused the opposition party of applying double standards when it comes to dealing with nepotism and unethical practices in the municipality.
Meanwhile, the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the province has accused the mayor of turning the Kouga municipality into his family recruitment agency.
“This was not the first appointment of Ms Hendricks by the municipality as she had previously been appointed in a political office as a Ward Assistant and also acted as a volunteer for the same municipality,” said SAMWU Provincial Secretary Yalezo Luzuko.
The union called for the immediate withdrawal of the appointment of Hendricks [daughter] and that disciplinary actions be taken against Cllr Hendricks [mayor] for nepotism.
“In another illogical defense, the Mayor has gone as far as arguing that previous mayors before him had relatives employed by the municipality during their turner. The fact that those who came before him erred does not legitimize the appointment of Cllr Hendricks’ daughter, in fact, two wrongs do not make a right,” said Yalezo.
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