Durban Manager’s role comes under spotlight during council meeting

Corruption accused City Manager, Sipho Nzuza will not be signing off on any tenders.

This was said by eThekwini Municipality mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, during an executive council meeting on Tuesday.

It came after Democratic Alliance members questioned whether Nzuza remaining in his position as City Manager is not a contravention of his bail conditions.

Kaunda said Nzuza had officially delegated all his signing powers to Deputy City Manager, Sipho Cele.

“I have no issue with the delegation of his signing powers. He (Nzuza) won’t breach his bail conditions because if he does he would be compromising himself,” said Kaunda.

Nzuza is out on R50 000 bail after being charged with fraud and corruption regarding his role in the irregular 2017 Durban Solid Waste tender that costs in excess of R430 million.

Nzuza’s bail conditions state that he should not get involved in any SCM and tender processes.

ALSO READ: Nzuza’s lawyers accuse state of using ‘dirty tricks’ 

One of the City Manager’s job functions is to sign off on all tenders but Kaunda said this function has now been delegated to Cele.

Nicole Graham, DA eThekwini Caucus leader, said it was unacceptable that the delegation was done by Nzuza instead of the council.

“With respect, we don’t know the relationship between Cele and Nzuza and whether they meet behind the scenes and there is undue influence,” said Graham. “This brings into question all kinds of issues.”

Cele was acting City Manager while Nzuza was suspended.

Nzuza did not comment and said a public meeting was not the “right platform” to discuss details of his bail conditions.

Kaunda suggested to Graham that there was no way to perform oversight even if Nzuza and Cele were meeting in private.

“I know Cele to be a professional, ethical person who is very observant and has a high level of commitment and discipline. He’s not that sort of of individual that can be pressured,” said Kaunda.

ALSO READ: Covid-19 deaths and cases on the rise in KZN, warns Zikalala

Things got interesting when councillors had to vote for an item that was recommending that the City Manager be given the power to “investigate” any SCM violations regarding tenders that were awarded for the month of July 2020.

The council introduced an amendment to the wording, replacing the words City Manager with Financial Officer.

Kaunda said this would be applied across all items. In an impassioned rant towards the end of the meeting, Nzuza complained that the constant amendments were “crippling” him from doing his job.

“It should not get to the point where I am useless in the municipality,” he said.

Kaunda responded by saying this is the first time eThekwini has a City Manager working while under investigation and cannot do all their functions.

Nzuza is expected back in court with 16 other accused on 10 December.

Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts

Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple