WITH the posts of four senior managers expiring at the end of June, the uMhlathuze Council has decided to extend the contracts of two of its top managers on a month-to-month basis, not exceeding three months.
The resolution was adopted at a special Council sitting in Richards Bay on Tuesday night.
The employment contracts of Deputy Municipal Managers: Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Services and City Development all terminated on Monday, 30 June while the post Deputy Municipal Manager: Infrastructure and Technical Services expired on 30 April.
Citing operational reasons, Council approved the extension of the employment contract on a month-to-month basis for CFO Mxolisi Kunene, for no longer than three months. Kunene will also act as Deputy Municipal Manager: Corporate Services during the same period.
This position was previously held by Mbali Ndlovu, who had been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation, which surfaced before Council on Tuesday.
Council further approved the appointment of Tumelo Gopane as Acting Deputy Municipal Manager: Infrastructure and Technical Services on a month-to-month basis, not exceeding three months.
Cllr Alen Viljoen, on behalf of the DA, formally objected to Gopane’s appointment, adding that ‘he did not have the necessary qualifications to act in that position’.
Another surprising decision was that of former Deputy Municipal Manager: Lindani Khoza, whose contract was not extended. Fellow City planner, Brenda Strachan was appointed to act in that position on a month-month basis for the next three months.
Khoza told the Zululand Observer on Wednesday that he would look at other options ‘should Council no longer need his services’.
‘I did apply for the post when the tender was out two months ago. However, it is Council’s prerogative and their decision to make.’
Poor planning
Councillors further questioned why the administration had taken ‘so long’ to fill the vacant posts, knowing well that the contracts would end in June.
‘Planning should have been done ahead and we should have shortlisted candidates by June with new people on the job this month. This is poor planning,’ said Cllr Beena Simmadhri.
‘We are running a huge organisation with complex matters and this should not be left for so late considering the problems we are encountering in terms of capacity,’ Cllr PN Kwela said.
Cllr Manie Lourens said shortlisting was underway and on track. ‘We put in the advert on time and had to extend the closure of applications by two weeks. With any organisation, there are challenges and we are expediting the process,’ said Lourens.
