Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa has ordered Makana Municipality to re-advertise the position of municipal manager because the candidate appointed by Council did not meet the minimum requirements in terms of the Municipal Systems Act.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa has ordered Makana Municipality to re-advertise the position of municipal manager because the candidate appointed by Council did not meet the minimum requirements in terms of the Municipal Systems Act.
In a special council meeting scheduled for the 8th of May, the Council of Makana Municipality was expected to consider a report from Xasa on the appointment of a municipal manager.
A confidential item, of which Grocott's Mail is in possession, recommends that the report from Xasa on the appointment of the municipal manager be considered.
A second recommendation indicates that if Council accepts Xasa's findings, the position be re-advertised.
The position of municipal manager became vacant after Pravine Naidoo was dismissed for misconduct in April last year.
Advertisements were placed in national and regional newspapers as required by law in November.
Candidates were shortlisted on 12 December by a selection panel appointed by Council.
Interviews were done on 12 January and six candidates were interviewed, according to documents.
The documents indicate that although the panel did not agree on a particular candidate, the ordinary council meeting of 12 March resolved by majority decision to appoint Paul Notyawa as Makana Municipality's municipal manager.
In compliance with the regulations for the appointment of senior managers, a report was prepared and submitted to Xasa for consideration.
It was widely reported in the media and confirmed by insiders within the Council that senior ANC officials, including Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Xasa and ANC Sarah Baartman region secretary Scara Njadayi had pressured Notyawa into withdrawing his candidacy for the job.
However, Njadayi at the time rejected those claims, saying Notyawa had withdrawn of his own accord.
"Comrade Notyawa has written to the African National Congress and to the administrator advising that he was declining the nomination," Njadayi said.
Notyawa was also accused of having close ties with the newly formed United Front, led by former local ANC head Lungile Mxube.
In a letter addressed to Executive Mayor Zamuxolo Peter, of which Grocott's Mail is in possession, Xasa said he had gone through the contents of the documentation submitted to his office to ascertain whether all the recruitment and selection processes as well as procedures as outlined in the Municipal Systems Amendment Act No. 7 of 2011 as well as the Local Government Regulations had been followed.
At the end of the process Xasa was not satisfied that Notyawa was the right man for the job.
"I am not satisfied that the said appointment is in line with the provisions of Section 54 of the Amendment Act," he said in the letter.
Xasa then ordered the municipality to take into account the following:
*The MEC does not confirm the compliance of the appointment of Notyawa as municipal manager of Makana Municipality as he does not meet the minimum requirements in terms of the Municipal Systems Act No. 32 of 2000 as amended.
*The municipality must re-advertise the vacant post of municipal manager as the other candidates also do not meet the minimum competency requirements of the National Treasury Regulations of 2007.
*The department will be able to assist the municipality with technical expertise in the prescribed processes and avoid a repeat of some of the recruitment irregularities reflected in the recruitment report.
Municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo said Council will in today's special council meeting discuss among other issues, the issue of the municipal manager.
She said shortly thereafter Peter will address a media briefing.
It appears that it's not all doom and gloom for the embattled municipality, as Peter is also expected to present the Govan Mbeki Award, which the municipality won last week, despite the alarmingly poor state of its finances and administration.
Notyawa was not available for comment at the time of going to press.
anele@grocotts.co.za
