A second candidate has turned down the job of managing Makana's troubled finances.
This comes as reports emerge that the municipality incurred hundreds of thousands of rands in suspending and dismissing a former chief financial officer, in what may amount to fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
A second candidate has turned down the job of managing Makana's troubled finances.
This comes as reports emerge that the municipality incurred hundreds of thousands of rands in suspending and dismissing a former chief financial officer, in what may amount to fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Apart from the cost, the municipality may face the embarrassment of having to rescind his dismissal. Paul Mahlasela, expected to start at the beginning of August, has reportedly declined the position of Makana Municipality chief financial officer.
Acting-municipal manager Themba Mnguni told Council on 29 August that Mahlasela had declined the position. Mnguni said he was the second option for Makana, as the first candidate, Riaaz Lorgat from Cacadu District Municipality, had also turned down the offer.
He said the municipality would have to re-advertise the post of CFO. There were no reasons given for Mahlasela's sudden change of heart about the position.
Councillors had been left in the dark about the appointment of Mahlasela, who would have been the third chief financial officer under the current leadership. Mahlasela is the former CFO of Ngqushwa local municipality in Peddie.
The position has been vacant for almost a year since Danny Sahibdeen resigned. DA councillor Les Reynolds said in August that Council had never been officially informed about Mahlasela's appointment. Busi Khumalo, from the provincial treasury office, is acting in the position until a permanent CFO is appointed.
She is due to remain until the end of the year.
The municipality has not yet advertised the position of CFO. Meanwhile, a reliable source has informed Grocott's Mail that the dismissal of a former CFO, Jackson Ngcelwane, will have to be rescinded by Council.
Ngcelwane was suspended on full pay in May 2011 by then-municipal manager Ntombi Baart. In a move seen as an attempt to thwart future employment prospects in a similar position, he was dismissed hours before his contract ended in June 2012.
Baart herself was axed soon after on charges of misconduct.
The source said the South African Local Bargaining Council recently ruled that Makana Municipality was obliged to fulfil a settlement agreement with Ngcelwane.
This was the result of a U-turn by the municipality in a Bargaining Council hearing.
Documents in Grocott's Mail's possession indicate that an attempt by the municipality to deny Ngcelwane had in fact been dismissed was overruled by the Bargaining Council.
According to the source, this means an item must be tabled to Council for rescinding the resolution of his dismissal. The full contents of the settlement agreement would also have to be disclosed, including a portion of the costs of his legal representation.
The source said total expenses could amount to R600 000.
This might have to be recovered from those responsible, as fruitless and wasteful expenditure, in terms of the Municipal Finances Management Act.
