MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Municipality's chief financial officer (CFO), Marius Botha, who joined the municipality on 1 December 2014 as the director of Financial Services, was found guilty of charges of fraud and money laundering in a regional court in the Northern Cape town of Williston.

After the monthly Council meeting this afternoon, the municipality released a statement saying that a resolution was adopted that Botha will be given until close of business on 30 May to furnish reasons why the clause in his contract that his employment may be terminated if he is convicted in court on a criminal offence relating to his previous employment should not be activated.

This follows his conviction in the Williston Magistrate’s Court this week on charges related to his term as CFO of the Karoo Hoogland Municipality in Williston.

Mr Botha assumed duty as Chief Financial Officer of the Mossel Bay Municipality on 1 December 2014.

“Mr Botha declared the charges against him when he applied for the position at the Mossel Bay Municipality and it was agreed that a clause would be included in his employment contract that it is subject to termination with immediate effect at the sole discretion of the Mossel Bay Municipality should he be found guilty of any criminal offence relating to his previous employment,” said the Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderman Harry Levendal.

“The principle that a person is assumed innocent until proven guilty was followed with the appointment of Mr Botha. He also acquitted himself well of his task at this Municipality, which achieved consecutive clean audits under his guardianship of the Municipality’s financial affairs. It is therefore only fair that he is given the opportunity to state his case, bearing in mind also that he still has the right to appeal against the conviction.