Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality councillors and management met at the Wembezi Multipurpose Centre for an Ordinary Council Meeting last Thursday. This council meeting replaced the proposed date on November 29.
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Council confirmed the minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on October 31. Councillor ES Ndumo from Enterprise Maintenance Planning and Control (EMPAC) gave a report, which included irregularities he was found.
He mentioned that no officials attend meetings even though being formally requested to attend. This was noted.
The Mayor Jabulile Mbele introduced the first matter submitted for consideration – the newly-developed Human Resource Policy.
The purpose was for council to approve the policy, which would allow for the release of employees’ salaries.
This was welcomed by council. Mrs Mbele moved on to introducing the implementation of the municipal corporate governance of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy framework.
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Council adopted the policy, requesting workshops on the topic. This item came about after the absence of an ICT Manager in the department since the merger of the two former municipalities and this was reflected in the Auditor General’s report.
The recommendation was that the ICT framework, strategy and policy be adopted. Municipal Manager Mr PS Mkhize announced the third matter, which was the progress with regards to the recruitment of a General Manager for the Planning and Development Service Department.
It was advertised earlier this year. However, due to discrepancies identified after the interview session, the selection process will be carried out from scratch. Mr Mkhize made the following recommendations:
Council resolve that the recruitment process be redone from the shortlisting phase and that the interview process be finalised by January 21. He added that the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Department be engaged for possible sourcing of a suitably qualified candidate or approve that the General Manager of Community Services be appointed to fill the post in an acting capacity.
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Council adopted the latter two recommendations, until Cogta would send a qualified candidate. Administrator Thandolwethu Manda said he would have found comfort if Mr Mkhize got advice regarding this.
“I would ask myself what would protect us, as the municipality,” he said.
Mr Manda also reminded council of the financial implications if Cogta sourced a candidate. Lastly, Mr Mkhize announced the Municipal Infrastructure Grant for October this year.
The purpose was to inform council of the progress and expenditure, allocated for the period of 2018/9. The municipality was allocated R36 949 000. The amount was used for various projects implemented in and around Estcourt such as building bridges, halls and crèche facilities, black top road projects and market stalls.
The municipality received R11 million and used that amount for the various projects; therefore 26.1 percent of the allocated funds were utilised. This matter was presented by the Department of Public Works and Basic Services – Civil and was noted by council.
Matters meant to be submitted for noting were operations and maintenance programs, medical aid scheme accreditation and guidelines and procedures on the application and implementation of the local government disciplinary regulations for senior managers.
Due to there being no items, this was struck off the agenda until further notice and the meeting concluded at 12:36pm.
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