UMHLATHUZE councillors have queried the qualifications and experience of shortlisted candidates for two top positions at the City of uMhlathuze.
This comes as interviews are underway to fill the vacant post of Deputy Municipal Manager: Corporate Services and the new position of Chief Operations Officer.
At the end of June this year, the posts of four senior managers expired.
Since then Mxolisi Kunene was appointed Deputy Municipal Manager: Chief Financial Officer while Tumelo Gopane filled the shoes of Deputy Municipal Manager: Infrastructure and Technical Services.
However, the posts of Corporate Services and City Development have still not been filled following the respective exits of Mbali Ndlovu and Lindani Khoza.
This week, opposition parties voiced their concern over the composition of the interviewing panel and the credentials of shortlisted candidates.
‘The report of the shortlisted candidates was submitted to Council just prior to last week’s meeting and this was short notice,’ said Cllr Beena Simmadhri.
‘We did not have enough of time to scrutinise the item and verify their qualifications. Some candidates, for instance, do not have municipal experience.
‘This item should have surfaced before the Executive Committee first but went straight to Council because the administration ran out of time,’ Cllr Simmadhri explained.
Delay
Cllr Alen Viljoen questioned the delay over the shortlisting of the Deputy Municipal Manager: City Development post, which is currently being manned by Stanley Mbatha in an acting capacity.
‘The filling of this post has been moved to 2015 yet the post expired at the end of June.
‘While the shortlisted candidates for the other two posts have qualifications, we query it as some have several degrees in a very short space of time while others do not any municipal experience.
‘There is also concern over the composition of the interviewing panel of three instead of the required recommendation of five,’ said Cllr Viljoen.
For the Corporate Services post, panel members comprise Municipal Manager Dr NJ Sibeko, Deputy Mayor Cllr NV Gumbi and uThungulu Municipal Manager Mandla Nkosi.
Interviews for the Chief Operations Officer will be presided by Speaker Cllr MG Mhlongo, uMfolozi Municipal Manager KE Gamede and the City Municipal Manager.
