VANDERBIJLPARK. – The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) resolved on the secondment of Oupa Nkoane as the new municipal manager (MM) for a period of twelve months on Tuesday morning.
Nkoane holds 15 years of experience in local government. He was the former Chief Director for National Urban Renewal Program, head of City Planning in both Ekurhuleni and Tshwane and acting city manager for the City of Tshwane.
The ELM said in a statement that Nkoane is one of the team members who participated in drafting the white paper of local government and was later appointed by SALGA as a policy researcher, key in development of many legislations including the Municipal Systems Act, Municipal Structures Act and the Property Rates Act.
A town planner by profession, Nkoane holds a master’s degree from the University of Pretoria. His former job in local government was as the CEO of the Municipal Demarcation Board. His appointment comes months after the resignation of the former MM, Yunus Chamda. “This is good news for operation and stability of the municipality, said ELM Mayor Simon Mofokeng. ELM has been in the public domain for challenges including payment of the two key bulk service accounts which has by far put strain on some parts of Emfuleni.
Due to the urgency of the matter and instead of opting for a headhunting process in terms of both the regulations and the council recruitment policy the ELM said, “The executive mayor on behalf of the Municipal Council opted to invoke Section 54A, 6 (a) of the Municipal Systems Act, which says that the Municipal Council may request the MEC for Local Government to second a suitable person, on such conditions prescribed, to act in the advertised position of municipal manager until such time a suitable candidate has been appointed.”
The MM will be required to facilitate the process of appointment of other senior managers as one of the immediate mandates to bring about stability to the ELM. Nkoane has been introduced to the panel in order to formally conclude the process of appointment.In his first interaction with the MM, Mofokeng assured him of the support that he will be receiving.
He urged him to correct the ills of Emfuleni in order to make way for quality service delivery. Mofokeng reiterated that he means business in turning the municipality around for the better. He appealed to communities and stakeholders to work together and give government a chance to discharge
