Opposition calls for probe into Kannaland acting municipal manager

The beleaguered Kannaland Municipality has been hit by a fresh scandal as councillors and political movements call for the removal of the newly appointed acting municipal manager.

Keith Jordaan, who is shrouded in controversy, was appointed as municipal manager after a highly publicised motion of no-confidence was passed against the former ANC-led administration.

The Weekend Argus can today reveal that Jordaan, who was described as a political airhead and is no stranger to serious allegations of fraud and corruption, had been with at least three municipalities over the past nearly two decades.

Dramatic scenes are playing out in the cash-strapped municipality after interim DA Western Cape leader Tertius Simmers allegedly pushed for Jordaan to be municipal manager, even though he is a convict.

Municipal documents seen by Weekend Argus also detail how Jordaan had been hopping between Western Cape municipalities.

Prior to his appointment in Kannaland, Jordaan was dismissed from the George Municipality for alleged maladministration and the illegal investment of R350 million with Old Mutual.

This week, Jordaan said his termination by the George Municipality in July 2019 had “inflicted undeserved damage on his person, character, and career“ after he had served the municipality with distinction and earned for the municipality an extraordinary return on an investment, identical to one made earlier in a neighbouring municipality.

He said this had received the approval of the accounting officer, the head of legal services, and the compliance officer.

“The investment management agreement was signed by the accounting officer and the municipal manager and gave effect to the investment.

“In addition, most Western Cape municipal managers and CFOs attended a presentation on the investment vehicle during a provincial government session, confirming the availability, or at least not denying the availability, of the vehicle and its use. Falsely accused, I had been cleared by the NPA,” Jordaan said.

Her said that he should never have been accused in the first place.

“My termination was the result of a regrettable convergence of calamitous union representation and the pedantic application of doctrinaire and punctilious literalist technical regulatory interpretation conjured by factional political vim. That I am, apparently, the preferred candidate of the ruling party for a crucial office speaks conclusively to my credibility and consummately against any semblance of perfidy,” Jordaan said.

Also, sources in the municipality claim that Jordaan unlawfully collected more than R300 000 in Cape Agulhas in a matter involving land.

He said the matter had been discredited earlier.

ANC caucus leader in the Western Cape provincial legislature, Cameron Dugmore, has previously vowed to take the matter to the acting public protector.

Former mayor Nicky Valentyn stated yesterday that he was opposed to the appointment.

“Everyone in the Southern Cape knows where Keith Jordaan comes from. We will fight it head-on in an attempt to remove him as acting municipal manager.

“We need to conduct a probe to establish the full background of Mr Keith Jordaan,” he said.