KING Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipal council has asked Bhisho to rescue its troubled administration from financial ruin by partly taking over.A special council meeting was convened in Mthatha yesterday, when council resolved to ask local government MEC Fikile Xasa to place the municipality under partial administration.
The call came on the same day municipal manager Zizamele Mnqanqeni, who has been blamed for the financial meltdown, resigned. The letter to Xasa will request the provincial executive invoke Section 139 (1)a and b of the constitution, which state that when a municipality does not fulfil an executive obligation, the provincial executive may intervene by taking steps to correct the situation.
The resolution was taken under the watchful eye of ANC regional chairman Thandekile Sabisa, deputy secretary Lawrence Mambila and treasurer Nowawethu Ndakayi. These developments come a day after KSD leaders were summoned to Bhisho to account to local government superintendent-general Stanley Khanyile for its financial crisis. This followed Mnqanqeni’s release of a circular informing municipal employees there was no money to pay them on June25. His reign as manager for more than two years was studded with controversy from the start.
His appointment was opposed by parties in council, who said his electrical engineering qualification was not enough.
Towards the end of last year the council was ordered by the high court to pay Landmark, a property development company that sued after a failed deal, more than a quarter of a billion. Opposition parties were against using KSD’s reserves but a resolution was passed by the ANC-dominated council to empty its coffers to pay.
Earlier this year, mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa wrote to Mnqanqeni about his alleged insubordination and told him to find reasons as to why he should not be suspended.
He went on leave on the day of the council meeting where his suspension was to be discussed. He returned two weeks ago and after issuing the circular on non-payment of salaries, went on sick leave.
Despite being in a precarious financial position, KSD has being paying a fleet management company millions each month – and on top of its fleet contract, has also hired 20 vehicles each month.
ANC OR Tambo regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the party welcomed the decision by council.
“His resignation has been accepted by the ANC. He has not been in good relations with the leadership of the municipality. We wish him good luck in his future endeavours.”
He said the party also welcomed the decision to seek administrative assistance from the provincial government.
“It is a wise decision. We request that provincial government assists and supports the municipality during this time of financial crisis.”
Khanyile said his department would attend to the matter as soon as they received correspondence from the municipality.
“We have been worried about the deteriorating financial status of the municipality for a while. We were going to send a team to assist, but now that they have taken this decision – all the better.”
UDM’s Mabandla Gogo said: “The people of KSD must celebrate that Mnqanqeni has left the municipality. We are vindicated because we objected to his appointment from the get-go. We are in agreement about invoking section 139 b.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
KSD asks province for help in crisis
A special council meeting was convened in Mthatha yesterday, when council resolved to ask local government MEC Fikile Xasa to place the municipality under partial administration.
The call came on the same day municipal manager Zizamele Mnqanqeni, who has been blamed for the financial meltdown, resigned. The letter to Xasa will request the provincial executive invoke Section 139 (1)a and b of the constitution, which state that when a municipality does not fulfil an executive obligation, the provincial executive may intervene by taking steps to correct the situation.
The resolution was taken under the watchful eye of ANC regional chairman Thandekile Sabisa, deputy secretary Lawrence Mambila and treasurer Nowawethu Ndakayi. These developments come a day after KSD leaders were summoned to Bhisho to account to local government superintendent-general Stanley Khanyile for its financial crisis. This followed Mnqanqeni’s release of a circular informing municipal employees there was no money to pay them on June25. His reign as manager for more than two years was studded with controversy from the start.
His appointment was opposed by parties in council, who said his electrical engineering qualification was not enough.
Towards the end of last year the council was ordered by the high court to pay Landmark, a property development company that sued after a failed deal, more than a quarter of a billion. Opposition parties were against using KSD’s reserves but a resolution was passed by the ANC-dominated council to empty its coffers to pay.
Earlier this year, mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa wrote to Mnqanqeni about his alleged insubordination and told him to find reasons as to why he should not be suspended.
He went on leave on the day of the council meeting where his suspension was to be discussed. He returned two weeks ago and after issuing the circular on non-payment of salaries, went on sick leave.
Despite being in a precarious financial position, KSD has being paying a fleet management company millions each month – and on top of its fleet contract, has also hired 20 vehicles each month.
ANC OR Tambo regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the party welcomed the decision by council.
“His resignation has been accepted by the ANC. He has not been in good relations with the leadership of the municipality. We wish him good luck in his future endeavours.”
He said the party also welcomed the decision to seek administrative assistance from the provincial government.
“It is a wise decision. We request that provincial government assists and supports the municipality during this time of financial crisis.”
Khanyile said his department would attend to the matter as soon as they received correspondence from the municipality.
“We have been worried about the deteriorating financial status of the municipality for a while. We were going to send a team to assist, but now that they have taken this decision – all the better.”
UDM’s Mabandla Gogo said: “The people of KSD must celebrate that Mnqanqeni has left the municipality. We are vindicated because we objected to his appointment from the get-go. We are in agreement about invoking section 139 b.” — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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