A political firestorm has erupted in the Western Cape after the emergence of a controversial video featuring a senior Stellenbosch municipal official, in which he called for whites to be ousted from society. The footage, purportedly recorded during a confidential meeting in 2023, shows the manager making incendiary comments regarding the municipality’s white employees.
Mayor Jeremy Fassar has now confirmed a formal investigation is underway to ascertain the full facts of the incident, which has ignited a fierce public debate on transformation policies and racial equity in the workplace.
The official in the video is heard expressing significant frustration that white male candidates consistently achieved the highest scores in internal job interviews, a situation he labelled as detrimental to the municipality’s transformation goals. The most explosive allegation is that the manager suggested making life so “difficult” for white staff that they would elect to leave the organisation voluntarily.
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Mayor Promises Thorough Probe Into “Concerning” Footage
In a statement addressing the growing scandal, Mayor Fassar sought to distance his current administration from the events, noting they occurred before his tenure began. He assured residents and staff that the matter was being treated with the utmost seriousness. The mayor stated,
“I wish to state these events occurred early in 2023 before I became mayor. I am undertaking an investigation into the matter and will issue a statement when this is completed. At face value the video is cause for concern and we will get to the heart of the matter and take appropriate further action as warranted.”
This represents a shift from the municipality’s initial response, which claimed the video was selectively edited.
Political Party Demands Immediate Action Against Official
The leak has drawn sharp condemnation from opposition parties, with the FF Plus leading the charge. Advocate Gert van Niekerk, the deputy provincial chairperson for the party, has called for swift and decisive consequences for the official involved. He condemned the sentiments expressed in the video as not only inflammatory but also illegal.
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Van Niekerk asserted,
“Such statements were unlawful and discriminatory,” and demanded “immediate and resolute action” be taken.
The incident has placed a intense spotlight on the internal policies and culture within the Stellenbosch municipality, with many calling for greater transparency as the investigation proceeds.