City’s financial boss officially suspended

Nelson Mandela Bay’s chief financial officer, Trevor Harper, was officially suspended by the council last week pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

The decision to suspend Harper, who has been on precautionary suspension since November, was taken during the confidential session of Thursday’s council meeting.

He is accused by the municipality of negligently signing off on payments worth R34.6-million to a company without a lawful contract in place.

At a media conference on Thursday, mayor Athol Trollip said he could not divulge information about Harper’s suspension as it was confidential.

Harper refused to comment yesterday, saying as far as he was aware he was still on precautionary suspension.