THE Democratic Alliance has raised its concerns about the stability of the eThekwini Municipality following reports that a number of heads of departments had left.
Speaking to Berea Mail, DA KZN leader Zwakele Mncwango said he was alarmed to hear of so many heads leaving the municipality, taking with them years of knowledge and experience.
“I believe many of these employees are leaving out of frustration. It is worrying, and our main concern is that the municipality is going to collapse,” he said.
In a daily newspaper this week, city manager, Sipho Nzuza said the high profile resignations, suspensions and dismissals had rocked the city and left him feeling concerned. Nzuza, who has only served as city manager for three months, said the burden of filling key vacant posts now fell on him.
The heads of departments who have left the employ of the municipality include deputy city manager for Community and Emergency Services, Musa Gumede, head of Parks Thembinkosi Ngcobo, head of Electricity, Sandile Maphumulo, head of Legal Services, Nokhana Moerane, head of Health, Dr Nomakhosi Gxagxisa. This week,reports surfaced of controversial Metro Police head, Eugene Nzama being offered early retirement.
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Mncwango said the municipality planned to push Nzama into early retirement even though he had six-and-a-half-years until retirement. He said Nzama’s position was worth between R1.5 and R1.8 million a year, but the city was offering him a golden handshake of more than R10 million, without the council’s executive committee’s approval.
“The mayor is using millions of ratepayers’ money to pay him out and nurse her own ego. She needs to do some serious introspection on how this municipality is running and make decisions which are in the best interest of the municipality,” he said.
When approached for comment regarding the posts left vacant by city heads of department, the Municipality said it did not comment on staff matters with third parties. It said all human resources issues were dealt with in accordance with the law.
“EThekwini Municipality does not discuss employee issues with a third party. The Municipality complies with the Labour Relations Act when dealing with employee matters. In addition, the Municipality has a code of conduct for officials and a disciplinary code. There is no political agenda. We do not use politics when dealing with administrative matters. The Municipality has an approved service delivery plan which consists of plans that are delivered by various units. The implementation of the service delivery plan is in full swing at the present moment.”
