Pravine Naidoo is good news for Grahamstown, says former Makana councillor and DA caucus member Michael Whisson.
Pravine Naidoo is good news for Grahamstown, says former Makana councillor and DA caucus member Michael Whisson.
In an interview with Grocott's Mail at his home on Wednesday, Whisson said although he had been out of the political loop, he was certain Naidoo was the right person to put Makana Municipality back in order.
Naidoo comes from Drakenstein District Municipality in the Western Cape, where he was the Executive Strategic Manager.
"He has experience, he has knowledge and has a grip on all the requirements for a municipal manager. He is very able," Whisson said. "He is a good disciplinarian, does things effectively and did not allow unions to get complete control of things… people had to do things according to the book when he was here."
Whisson recalls Naidoo's previous tenure as municipal manager almost seven years ago.
"He left in under difficult circumstances. His contract ended here (in Makana) so the post had to be re-advertised," Whisson said.
"At the time [at the end of his contract]he was engaged in a legal dispute primarily with the mayor and he attended the interviews…
"But he walked out of the selection committee after he made a brilliant presentation, and went straight across the road to the high court to continue his case against the mayor… he couldn't be re-appointed under those circumstances."
Naidoo was nevertheless, as far as he is concerned "so much better than any of the other municipal managers" in Makana.
“Whether he will be able to do it this time, I don't know. The ANC is no longer united as it was 10 years ago… clearly there are two factions,” said Whisson.
He thinks Naidoo should first ensure the Mayfield Phase 2 housing project – delayed for about eight years – completed. He should also give the Technical and Infrastructure services director Thembinkosi Myalato support.
"The municipal manager should be a solid backing for him (Myalato) to get the water issue sorted out. One can’t make complaints about sanitation in the township without water. It is essential that the water is sorted.
"The engineer (Myalato) is very good, he needs real support from the MM," Whisson said.
He said if all the directors in Makana municipality worked as efficiently as the former director of primary healthcare services (a Mrs Madlavu) things would work well.
"She and her team were very professional. The staff respected her. They were efficient in doing reports, even though they were under-resourced," he said.
Whisson retired from Council nearly two years ago.
"I have deliberately kept out of things because I had a very high profile… I was the noisiest member of the DA caucus," Whisson said.
He feels the new municipal manager will have to work hard to earn the respect of Council members.
"I hope that he's learned from his previous time here that bullying doesn't work well. He can't afford to make enemies."
There were also questions during Naidoo's previous time in Makana Municipality.
"There were some stories that he bought a plot at Cradock Heights when that was being divided into plots and sold off, and both as buyer of the plot and the representative of the council selling the plot, he signed the deed of sale on behalf of both," Whisson said.
"That was probably not illegal, and probably not dishonest, but it sort of made people feel that he was slippery."
But Naidoo's leadership is exactly what is needed in Makana Municipality, Whisson said.
"He was quite authoritarian… that is what the municipality needs. I personally am quite happy that he's come back."
"I have deliberately kept out of things because I had a very high profile… I was the noisiest member of the DA caucu."
