Ex-municipal manager restored as CFO in Lesedi local municipality
by Mirna Mulder Cllr - DA Caucus Leader- Lesedi Municipality
During a special council meeting held on Monday 9 July 2018, a decision by means of a division of votes was taken by the Lesedi Local Municipality Council, to restore Paul Mpele to his former position as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Municipality.
This was done after a letter was received from Gauteng MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Uhuru Moiloa which was submitted during a full Council meeting, advising the Municipal Council to restore the former Municipal Manager to his previous position as CFO.
During the division of votes the opposition was outvoted by the ANC majority in the Council and it was subsequently resolved to restore Mr Mpele as CFO.
This follows after months of protest as Mpele had been appointed as Municipal Manager, a position he was not fit to hold.
In correspondence received from the MEC, it also was pointed out that the salaries received by Senior Managers and the Municipal Manager were irregular as they were way above the upper limit threshold as stipulated in the applicable legislation.
The details of Mpele’s restoration to the position of CFO, including his future salary, were not resolved by the insistence of the Mayor, Lerato Maloka and Member of Mayoral Committee of Finance Councillor Thembi Ramothibe.
Like his unlawful appointment as Municipal Manager, Mpele’s ascension to the position of CFO is concerning as it is alleged that he also does not qualify for this position and is under investigation by the Hawks.
This display of maladministration by the ANC is a typical example of poor governance, irregular political intervention and a total disregard of legislative processes and best practice under the leadership of Premier David Makura. Once again cadre deployment has triumphed to the detriment of service delivery to the Lesedi Community.
The DA will not accept Mpele as the CFO and will pursue the necessary means to ensure that his appointment is scrutinised by a higher legislative body to ensure that members of the administration in Lesedi are qualified and focus on service delivery.
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