Drama erupted again in Makana Council after the Speaker allegedly refused to convene a Council meeting meant to decide the fate of the municipal manager.
Drama erupted again in Makana Council after the Speaker allegedly refused to convene a Council meeting meant to decide the fate of the municipal manager.
Adding to the sense of panic was news that processes to start a forensic investigation of Makana's finances are under way, and that the ANC's provincial leadership is set to grill city bosses on the finances of the institution.
Provincial Secretary of the ANC, Oscar Mabuyane, confirmed yesterday that the organisation had begun looking into Makana's finances.
"We are meeting with the leadership of Makana and the REC next week. Only then we will be able to comment," said Mabuyane.
Meanwhile Makana councillors are up in arms after Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac allegedly refused to call a meeting regarding Municipal Manager Pravine Naidoo's pending suspension.
DA caucus leader Les Reynolds said, "I have called her and sent her emails about the council meeting and she has not responded. Even this morning there was no reply from her. The whole council is very angry, I think we will see changes in due course."
Reynolds said acting municipal manager on the matter of Naidoo's proposed suspension, Mandisi Planga, has called for the Council meeting to be held today at 5pm.
Several attempts to get comment from Madinda-Isaac and also municipal spokesperson Mncedisi Boma had been unsuccessful at the time of going to press.
On Tuesday a brief interview with Mayor Zamuxolo Peter confirmed there was uncertainty about a date for the Council meeting regarding Naidoo. Peter said Naidoo had submitted a report to explain why he should not be suspended.
"It will be tabled in Council," he said. The Speaker will set a date, but we are not sure [when]," the Mayor said.
Grocott's Mail understands that a few officials from the municipality are lobbying against a forensic audit of Makana's current financial crisis. Mabuyane said he would communicate any further decisions about plans to investigate the city's finances.
Makana Council put Naidoo on seven days precautionary leave two weeks ago, as a precursor to his proposed suspension.
Naidoo's proposed suspension is in connection with the settlement documents signed by the Speaker.
Spokesman Mncedisi Boma told Grocott's Mail last week that the seven days' imposed leave was intended to prevent Naidoo from interfering in Council investigations.
Documents in the possession of Grocott's Mail indicate that Council Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac earlier last month agreed to pay more than R100 000 in legal costs, on top of a R3 million out-of-court settlement with Naidoo.
The agreement lodged with the labour court follows Naidoo's dispute with Makana Municipality after he left office as municipal manager in 2007. The out-of-court settlement of R3m was a compromise after his initial demand for a R5m settlement.
