‘Unbearable chest pain’ lands Emfuleni municipality mayor in hospital

Emfuleni Local Municipality mayor Jacob Khawe has been admitted to hospital on Thursday after encountering ill-health, his chief of staff Jabu Kumalo said.

“Councillor Jacob Khawe [has been] admitted to hospital. This is due to unbearable chest and right leg pains. The mayor’s admission to hospital was on Thursday October 4, 2018. The medical experts are currently running tests and have advised the executive mayor to rest. The people of Emfuleni will be kept posted on any developments in this regard. The Emfuleni Local Municipality wishes the mayor speedy recovery,” Kumalo continued.

READ MORE: Emfuleni municipality ‘run by matriculants’

In August, power utility Eskom threatened to disconnect the municipality after it allegedly failed to honour its repayment plan.

In the same month, the Democratic Alliance alleged that the administration manager in Emfuleni did not have the required qualifications for the position.

READ MORE: Bidvest repossesses essential service vehicles from Gauteng municipality

The party revealed that the position of the administration manager at the municipal office was not advertised and that the manager was transferred from the office of the speaker to head the municipality’s administration office.

It was also reported in the media that the municipality was paying its acting facilities manager more than R1 million per year, for a position he allegedly is not qualified for.

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