For seven years, residents of the Umngeni municipality in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands have waited for a full-time municipal manager to lead their council into a brighter future. Their wait isn’t over.
Sibusiso Sithole‚ who was to take over the reins on Monday‚ March 13‚ was their beacon of hope. But exactly a week before he was due to take up the post‚ his life was cut short in a hail of bullets. The Richmond municipal manager lay dead outside his vehicle in an apparent hit.
While his family‚ friends and political comrades — including police minister Nathi Nhleko and acting national police commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane — mourn him‚ his death has left an unfilled vacancy at the Umgeni municipal council‚ and its residents back at square one.
The small council hasn’t had a full-time head since 2010‚ when the troubled Dumisani Vilakazi was dismissed following a string of scandals and allegations of maladministration. A former senior municipal office bearer recounted on Tuesday how they struggled repeatedly to get a municipal manager over the past seven years, but it seems to be a job nobody really wants.
"Following Vilakazi’s departure an official acted until the arrival of Nathi Mthethwa from Mooi-Mpofana [municipality] in 2011‚" said the official. However‚ Mthethwa withdrew at the 11th hour citing job opportunities elsewhere. "Again someone acted until the municipality secured the services of Dr Mpilo Ngubane‚" the contact said.
Ngubane only stayed for one year, leaving in 2014 after getting a job at the eThekwini Municipality‚ where he is now the head of the municipal academy.
The next candidate for the top job was soon identified. Recognising the crisis that was unfolding‚ the KwaZulu-Natal department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) seconded former Ugu municipal manager Khayo Mpungose.
"A council resolution was taken and Mpungose accepted the offer. However‚ just before he could start‚ he called [former] mayor Mbali Myeni to say he was no longer available as his company had received a massive contract and that the municipality would not be able to afford his salary‚" the source said.
At the time‚ former mayor Myeni’s five-year term at the political helm was coming to an end‚ so time was of the essence. Cogta again seconded an official‚ Gabi Gumbi-Masilela‚ a former Municipal Demarcation Board CEO and former provincial housing head of department‚ but also in an acting capacity. During a short-lived tenure‚ Gumbi-Masilela had her vehicle stolen from her home; it was later found on the Mozambican border.
She left the council and an internal official‚ Sandile Buthelezi‚ head of corporate services‚ acted in her place as the council hunted for Gumbi-Masilela’s replacement. Early this year, the council appointed Sithole‚ who was due to start next week.
On Wednesday, Buthelezi said in a statement: "The municipality is saddened and shocked by the passing of the incoming municipal manager, as we were looking forward to having him at the helm of the municipality’s administration. A special sitting of council is scheduled for Monday to discuss a way forward in filling the municipal manager’s post."
TMG Digital
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