Zwelihle Godfrey Dhlamini began his duties as the new AbaQulusi municipal manager (MM)
last year. But it wasn’t plain sailing and the community wanted him gone because they didn’t believe he was qualified for the position.
However, he has since been vindicated by the Department of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and found to indeed be qualified for the position.
The Vryheid Herald interviewed Dhlamini, where he explained his qualifications. He was previously the director of Corporate Services and acting MM at Ulundi Local Municipality, before occupying his current position. Going back to his youth, Dhlamini proudly said that he ‘moved very fast’ in his classes at school and only did 10 years of schooling. At the age of 19, he joined KwaZulu-Natal SAPS, where he climbed the ranks from constable to warrant officer. He later studied Law at the University of Johannesburg, joined politics in the year 2000 and became a councillor. He was a member of the executive council for five years before he was moved to administration to become a deputy director. He also mentioned that he did a diploma in Sweden for local government.
Last year October, mass protests demanded the removal of Dhlamini as MM. Community members held a march against former mayor Mncedisi Maphisa outside the municipal offices, where they outlined their grievances and demands. Among those demands, the community required the MM to produce his matric certificate and other qualifications, as well as the qualifications of all municipal employees – whose records must be checked by a skills audit.
In a CoGTA report on July 26, 2022, the MEC considered the appointment of the municipal manager at Abaqulusi Local Municipality. Dhlamini’s appointment was initially rejected because it was not clear whether he had a Bachelor’s degree or not. However, it was reviewed and a recommendation made for the MEC to support Dhlamini’ s appointment. The departmental recommendations were based on the fact that Dhlamini has a Master of Laws (International Commercial Law) degree and 5 years’ experience in senior management positions in local government. He therefore meets the minimum requirements for the position of municipal manager. Dhlamini’s appointment was assessed based on a qualification higher than a degree, which the municipality verified with SAQA.
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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
