Oudtshoorn, 22 October 2024 – At a Special Council Meeting held on 22 October 2024, the Council of the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality addressed the resignation of Noel Van Stade, Director of Community Services. Van Stade, who requested an early release, was formally acknowledged by the Council. As part of the proceedings, the Council was tasked with appointing an Acting Director of Community Services during the recruitment and selection process for a permanent replacement.
After careful consideration, the Council resolved to seek approval from MEC Anton Bredell to appoint Ian Avontuur as the Acting Director of Community Services. Avontuur’s qualifications and extensive Senior Management experience make him a strong candidate for this interim role. Pending this approval, the Council will appoint a municipal official to assume the role to ensure continuity in leadership and service delivery.
In an agenda item, the Council reviewed the determination of the upper limits for salaries, allowances, and benefits for members of Municipal Councils, as outlined in Government Gazette No. 51407, dated 17 October 2024. The regulation provides a framework for calculating municipal grading based on key indicators such as gross municipal income from audited financial statements for the 2022/23 financial year and population statistics from the 2022 Census.
Oudtshoorn Municipality, as per the formula, has been confirmed as a Grade 4 municipality. This grading was used to determine the remuneration levels for Councillors. The Council has approved the remuneration for the 2023/2024 financial year and resolved that the payment for the 2024/2025 financial year will be brought back to the Council for further approval. The approval for the remuneration for 2023/2024 will be sent to the MEC for approval before any payments can be made.
The Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality remains committed to ensuring effective leadership during this transition and will continue to engage with the community and relevant stakeholders about these key developments.