Controversy over Umdoni MM’s qualifications

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta) has rubbished reports against Umdoni’s Acting Municipal Manager (MM), Thabisile Ndlela, failing to produce her undergraduate qualifications.

This comes after a well-known media house published an article where the qualifications of the MM was called into question by unnamed sources within the municipality.

KZN Cogta spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, said according to the information provided to the department, Ndlela holds a B Commerce degree (Honours), a B Tech degree, and seven years of experience in senior management positions in local government; saying that she meets the academic and experience requirements for the position of municipal manager.

Mzila added that the process of appointing a MM is regulated by the Local Government Municipal Systems Amendment Act 3 of 2022.
He said in Section 7(a) of the Act, municipalities are directed to submit all information pertaining to the appointment process and outcome of the recruitment process to the Cogta MEC.

“The MEC is then tasked with assessing if the appointment process is in line with legislation. In the case of Umdoni Municipality, this process was followed thoroughly. The information provided by the municipality was assessed, and it was found that the appointment of the municipal manager complied with the key recruitment and selection statutory provisions. In terms of the regulations, the competency levels for municipal managers are a bachelor’s degree or a relevant qualification registered on the National Qualifications Framework at NQF level 7, a minimum of five years’ experience at senior management level,” said Mzila.

In a statement last Tuesday, Umdoni Municipality said the claims are unfounded and detrimental to the MM, adding that Ndlela has suffered immensely under the false accusations.

The municipality said an enquiry was made at the Durban University of Technology with regards to the qualifications in question and were duly confirmed as legitimate by the institution.

“The process of appointing a municipal manager is regulated by the Local Government Municipal Systems Act 3 of 2022 and due process is followed as prescribed by Section 7(a) of the Act, municipalities are directed to submit all information pertaining to the recruitment process to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The MEC was then tasked with the appointment after all information and processes have been concluded,” said the municipality.

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