Alone on an island as he tries to protect the town’s interests, under an increasingly aggressive and sinister force that seeks to destroy his Mayorship and, ultimately the town, for personal greed.
Mayor Thulani Mahaye pulled no punches when interviewed by the Courier over allegations that he is interfering in the day-to-day administration of the municipality, had ordered in writing that no further appointments be done at the municipality unless a directive is received by the Regional Committee of the ANC and is wanting to give a full pay-out to currently suspended municipal manager, TP Biyela.
Strangely, the biggest threat to Mayor Mahaye’s post is not from opposition parties but from his own ranks – the ANC.
In the latest round of allegations – received in writing from one SP Gwebu of Ntabeni Street, Sibongile, it is alleged Mayor Mahaye is riding roughshod over the administration as he strives to have his ‘pals appointed to lucrative posts’. The Courier has a copy of the memo Mayor Mahaye sent to acting municipal manager, Martin Hlengane, instructing him to stop ‘the short listing and reverse’ the processes of advertised posts. The memo concludes with the sentence: ‘The officials of the region will give you a directive before shorting listing commence (sic).’ However, while Mayor Mahaye agrees the memo ‘could have been better worded’, he says he could not stand back and watch while others go ahead and have their own friends and family members appointed’.
“As a Mayor I have an oversight role to play. I must protect the town and the municipality. The letter was not threatening anybody, it was just to stop any unqualified people from getting posts. I am acting here in the best interests of the town – not for any political party. It was strongly worded so they would listen and stop what they are doing.”
He said since he had become Mayor in 2011, the municipality had been through ‘tumultuous times’ with the termination of the contracts of long-serving senior managers, violent protests, suspension of managers, firing of officials (two others are still on suspension on full salary) and a slew of ‘actors’ who have taken up senior positions at the municipality.
“We have over the last few months seen a degree of stability. Now, some sinister forces want to disrupt us again. They have their own selfish reasons.”
Asked if he had recommended that the municipality simply pay-out Mr Biyela for the remainder of his contract, Mayor Mahaye said, “this is a blue lie”.
“What I did say was let the legal process continue and let us conclude Mr Biyela’s case.”
Mandela Statue
Asked – as alleged in Mr Gwebu’s letter – that the R2-million Mandela statute bungle was his fault and that he had exploited the young sculptors, Mayor Mahaye said this was also part of a plot. “When Madiba died, I was approached by some of the young artists to allow the municipality to put the statute up in front of the municipality rather than leave it at the museum. I agreed. The issue of the R2-million was perhaps the fault of certain officials. To blame me is just nonsense.”
Mayor Mahaye said while he ‘did not mind answering the allegations’, he found it ‘strange that the writer Mr Gwebu’s address is Ntabeni Street, Sibongile, while Ntabeni Street is in Sithembile’.
“Hence, I say there are forces at play. One must be on guard. Greedy forces want to cause chaos.”
The Courier asked him about the allegations of the apparent loss of Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funds from the National Treasury because of tardiness from officials who failed to submit papers to Pretoria or finalise contracts.
“It is true that some of the paperwork was late. I put this down to the fact that we have had so many acting managers. However, all contractual obligations have been fulfilled and letters of award issued regarding tenders for infrastructure work. Endumeni has an excellent track record when it come to MIG funding and I assure residents that come June 30, we would have spent 100% of the R16-million grant.”
