Speaker in hot water over ‘hire and fire’ remarks
“I was engulfed with grief and spoke in the heat of the moment. I am acutely aware that the recruitment of staff is an administrative function which does not involve councillors. I unreservedly apologise for any confusion caused and I would like to reaffirm the rights and protection of workers at AbaQulusi Municipality,''
The IFP in KZN has launched an internal enquiry following a video clip in which AbaQulusi Speaker Cllr Micheal Khumalo is heard saying that he will make sure that a member of the Mbatha household is employed at the municipality.
He made the remarks at the funeral of Cllr Mbatha.
“If there is no vacant position, I will tell the municipal manager, Mr Dlamini, to fire one of the people who are already working at the municipality,” he was heard saying.
Members of the community raised questions as to ‘how they really employ people within the municipality’. Other political parties have also expressed concern over Speaker Khumalo’s remarks, which were widely spread on social media.
In a statement to the Herald, IFP KZN provincial chairperson Cllr Thami Ntuli said ‘the IFP leadership shares the concerns that have been raised and we view these allegations in a very serious light’.
“It is against this background that we have therefore instituted a process that might result in the possible precautionary suspension of Cllr Khumalo, pending the finalisation of an internal enquiry.”
Speaker Khumalo said he has ‘noted the outcry over utterances attributed to myself over the weekend at the funeral of the late Cllr Phaphama Mbatha.
“I was engulfed with grief and spoke in the heat of the moment. I am acutely aware that the recruitment of staff is an administrative function which does not involve councillors. I unreservedly apologise for any confusion caused and I would like to reaffirm the rights and protection of workers at AbaQulusi Municipality,” the speaker said.
The DA in the municipality released a statement saying that they distance themselves from the comments made by Speaker Khumalo regarding the hiring processes in the municipality.
“Speaker Khumalo then went on to say that DA Councillor Swelakhe Shelembe would support this move – this is not true, as we would never support this ludicrous move. This brings into question the IFP-run municipality’s employment processes.’’
In September, the DA wrote a letter to the municipality to request the vetting of qualifications of all professional municipal employees.
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