Non-performance on capital projects forces council to take drastic action

At an urgent special council meeting on Friday, 29 April, Council took the unanimous decision of intention of precautionary suspension of Ngwathe Local Municipality’s technical director, Thami Malunga.
He then had seven days to submit reasons why the decision should not go ahead.
In effect, he would have had to give his reasons by this coming Friday, 6 May.
Council had to take drastic action after non-performance on capital projects, Ngwathe’s executive mayor, Ms Victoria de Beer, said.
The Committee on Infrastructure and Local Economic Development’s recent inspections of capital works in progress revealed several problems.
Meanwhile, the acting municipal manager, Ms Florence Mokgobu, has been appointed to control the technical portfolio, pending the completion of possible disciplinary action against the technical director.
During the special council meeting, the executive mayor also indicated that the former Eskom task team, consisting of board members and officials, would be reactivated.
The team would negotiate with Eskom about the greater demand for power expected in the coming winter months, the increase in main substations’ capacity and payment plans.
The mayor and her current team will meet with Eskom again on 5 May to take the process further.