The reshuffle of Makana Municipality has been postponed, according to City Hall officials. The move will see executive mayor Zamuxolo Peter deployed to the Sarah Baartman District Municipality as a mayoral committee member and councillor Nomhle Gaga will take over the reins.
The reshuffle of Makana Municipality has been postponed, according to City Hall officials. The move will see executive mayor Zamuxolo Peter deployed to the Sarah Baartman District Municipality as a mayoral committee member and councillor Nomhle Gaga will take over the reins.
Speaker Rachel Madinda-Isaac will be replaced by Sarah Baartman councillor Yandisa Vara and will serve as a mayoral committee member in Makana.
Last week Grocott's Mail reported that Gaga could be appointed as the new mayor, against the wishes of those who have been advocating for an outside person to take over the position.
Grocott's Mail had learned from a number of ANC sources that leaders of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the ANC were expected to announce the much-talked about reshuffle of the executive committee of Makana Municipality by the end of the week.
In this move, Gaga is expected to be appointed as the new mayor of Makana Municipality.
It appears that the PEC and the ANC Regional Executive Committee (REC) have been at loggerheads since last year regarding this process.
Insiders say leaders of the REC have been calling for the appointment of a person outside of the current leadership of Makana Municipality.
On Wednesday municipal spokesperson Yoliswa Ramokolo sent out an email saying that yesterday, 30 July, Makana Municipality would be having a special council meeting to swear in newly elected Ward 1 Councillor Melikhaya Phongolo.
Ramokolo said the introduction of the acting municipal manager J. Gomomo from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs would also be introduced.
"Also, as you might have read from the newspapers about the possible reshuffle, the current Executive Mayor, [Zamuxolo] Peter will be handing over his reins to a new executive mayor and the current Speaker [Rachel] Madinda-Isaac will also be doing the same."
However, early Wednesday Ramokolo sent out another email saying, "Kindly be informed that the possible reshuffle will not be happening on Thursday but next week on Monday.
There will only be the introduction of the newly elected Councillor Phongolo and the Acting MM Mr J Gomomo.
I humbly apologise for the miscommunication of this matter yesterday [Wednesday]."
However, the appointment of Gomomo to replace Pam Yako, who was also present in the meeting, was halted during a special council meeting yesterday after councillors were caught off guard by the announcement.
Councillors said they were expecting to be introduced to an acting municipal manager.
During the meeting, Cogta HOD Bea Hackula introduced Gomomo as both the administrator and acting municipal manager.
Councillor Paul Notyawa objected to the appointment of Gomomo as administrator, saying the report Hackula read out before Council should have been part of the Council agenda.
DA councillor Brian Fargher said according to information they had received as councillors, Gomomo was to be appointed as acting municipal manager.
Peter also asked members of Cogta who were in Council to think carefully about the appointment.
Madinda-Isaac said the matter would be discussed only once the report is tabled before Council.
Acting municipal manager Riana Meiring suggested a special council meeting be convened on Monday so the report can be tabled.
Council is expected to hold a special council meeting on Monday 3 August.
anele@grocotts.co.za
