NELSPRUIT – Mr Xolanoi Mzobe, municipal manager (MM) of Mbombela Local Municipality has officially been suspended by council. Mr Sibusiso Siboza, chief operating officer, has been appointed as acting MM.
The decision to suspend Mzobe was taken at a special council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, during which Mr Simon Skhosana, MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, presented his report on the investigation into alleged corruption, financial malpractice and governance in the municipality on September 13. A preliminary report of the inquiry, conducted by Msikinya Attorneys & Associate, was presented to council two weeks ago.
At the time, Skhosana recommended that both Mzobe and Mr Rasheed Matola, the general manager of community services, be suspended. They were then placed on precautionary suspension by council, while the attorneys conducting the investigation were granted an additional two weeks to finalise their report.
At the time of going to print, Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for the municipality, would not comment on what other recommendations the report contained. He would also not indicate what process would be followed against Matola.
