The Council of Makana Municipality has re-appointed Riana Meiring to act in the position of municipal manager after receiving advice from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Meiring has been acting in the position since mid-2015. She was re-appointed last Thursday (10 March) in a confidential meeting after the municipality received strategic advice warning them against advertising the position ahead of the local government elections.
The Council of Makana Municipality has re-appointed Riana Meiring to act in the position of municipal manager after receiving advice from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Meiring has been acting in the position since mid-2015. She was re-appointed last Thursday (10 March) in a confidential meeting after the municipality received strategic advice warning them against advertising the position ahead of the local government elections.
Cogta Head of Department, Nombulelo Hackula, has written to Administrator Jongisizwe Gomomo advising the municipality of the challenges of recruiting and appointing a municipal manager before or during the elections.
In correspondence, seen by Grocott's Mail, Hackula acknowledged a letter from Gomomo dated 29 February requesting that the department give guidance and strategic advice regarding the filling of the vacant post. Hackula said the department is well aware that the post has been vacant for a long period of time since the dismissal of the previous incumbent, Grahamstown lawyer Paul Notyawa, and the delay brought about by his court action challenging that dismissal.
In her letter to Makana, Hackula says Section 54A (4) (a) and (b) of the Municipal Systems Act stipulates that, should the position be vacant, the municipal council must advertise the post nationally and select a suitable person who complies with the prescribed minimum requirements from the pool for appointment to the post.
Sub-section (6) (a) of the same Act further states that "the municipal council may request Xasa to second a suitable person to act in the position until such time as a suitable candidate has been appointed".
After the item that dealt with the advertisement of the position was withdrawn in the last Council meeting of 29 February, Gomomo sought advice from Cogta about advertising the post.
After taking into consideration the upcoming elections and their possible impact on the process, the department has advised the municipality to consider three options on how to handle the situation.
The first is for the municipality to advertise and appoint a municipal manager, knowing that there are risks involved with this option.
The second is for the municipality to appoint an acting municipal manager internally for a period not withstanding three months. ]
The third is to explore and utilise section 54A (6) (a) of the Act and request Xasa to second a suitable person to act in the position until such time a suitable person has been appointed.
Section 57 (6) of the Act stipulates that the employment contract for a municipal manager must be for a fixed term and up to a maximum of five years, not exceeding a period ending one year after the election of the next council of the municipality.
This means that any employment contract for a municipal manager must not go beyond a period of one year after the elections.
Cogta feels this time constraint may pose a challenge in attracting a pool of suitable candidates, as it makes the position less attractive.
Makana Municipality chose the second option in last week's confidential special council meeting.
Speaking to Grocott's Mail last Thursday, Meiring said the council resolved that they are not going to advertise because there is an issue in terms of the contract.
"Because the municipal manager's contract may not last a year after the municipal elections, that will make it very difficult to attract suitable people, so they are going to continue having an acting municipal manager," she said.
anele@grocotts.co.za
