Axed councillors return to power

Newly appointed Buffalo City Metro mayor Alfred Mtsi yesterday announced the reinstatement of two mayoral committee members earlier fired by his predecessor.

He also announced the demotion of a third senior councillor.

Former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha fired Nomiki Mgezi as head of human settlements last November following a recommendation by ANC regional leaders to their Calata bosses.

The Daily Dispatch reported two months ago that Ncitha also demoted two more councillors, including community services head Nomfezeko Ngesi.

Mtsi announced at a press conference yesterday that the ANC provincial deployment committee had decided to reinstate Mgezi to head human settlements and Ngesi would now head corporate services.

The changes will see two councillors’ salaries increase from around R392000 a year back to R841000.

Asked if the reversal suggested that Ncitha erred when she fired Mgezi and Ngesi, Mtsi said it was an inclusive process.

“It is a political managed process which not only rely on what both of us think on who should be in the mayoral committee.

“The organisation took into account a number of issues. If some people are shifted from one position to the other, it depends on the organisation.

“We can recommend but the organisation ultimately makes a final decision,” said Mtsi.

Another surprise announcement was the demotion of Sindiswa Gomba as housing head. Mtsi yesterday said Gomba had been moved to head the women’s caucus.

Council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele was the only survivor among the four senior councillors facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the misuse of more than R5.9-million meant for memorial services in the run up to the funeral of the late Nelson Mandela in December 2013.

Gomba, Simon-Ndzele, Ncitha along with former deputy mayor Temba Tinta are facing criminal charges in relation to the scandal.

Ncitha was fired as mayor last month and has been promoted to serve in the national council of provinces as an ANC member of parliament, while Tinta is an ANC MPL in Bhisho.

“This is an issue we should have attended to some time ago, but due to some delays in managing the processes, we were forced to do it only yesterday,” said Mtsi.

He also announced a new face in his executive, Mzwandile Vaaibom, who will take over from Sangweni Matwele as council chief whip.

Other changes are:

lFormer chief whip Matwele will head community services;

lZoliswa Matana will head the new portfolio of planning and development; and

lHelen May is the new head of health and safety. The position was held by Tinta after the former mayor recalled Rufus Rwexu as portfolio head last November.

Mtsi said the names were identified on the basis of a number of considerations.

“The applied its mind and took some consideration to necessitate that those individuals form part of the team. And we were satisfied that this is the team that is going to work with us. A team that is capable. A team that also has experience,” said Mtsi.

Rumours were that Simon-Ndzele would also be recalled but Mtsi assured the media that no changes would be effected in the speaker position.

Four more senior councillors will retain their current position, despite the ANC regional deployment committee recommending otherwise.

lJohn Badenhorst remains the finance head;

lAyanda Peter remains head of special programmes; and

lMteteleli Sam will retain his position as head of engineering services.

“We hope that service delivery will be accelerated as we approach the end of the term,” added Mtsi.