Amathole District Municipality (ADM) mayor Nomasikizi Konza will release to her council a controversial report alleging she interfered in the affairs of the board of the Aspire agency.
This follows an intervention by the provincial ANC leadership.
Last Monday Konza was called to a meeting with ANC provincial executive committee members and former Aspire board members at Calata House, the provincial ANC headquarters in King William’s Town.
This was apparently to get her explanation on why she had not tabled the damning report drawn up by a law firm into the Aspire meltdown, which implicated her in interference.
Aspire is ADM’s economic development agency. ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makhunga said yesterday: “Yes, I can confirm that the mayor will table the report in the next council meeting.”
ADM council speaker Samkelo Janda also confirmed Konza had undertaken to table the report and its findings on August 21.
Former board chairman Vanguard Mkhosana said the board had been trying since February to get Konza to table the report.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane told the Daily Dispatch yesterday: “We met at the board’s request. We are now looking at reports furnished to us. We believe the matter still needs to be handled responsibly by the board and ADM.”
The 116-page report, which has been seen by the Dispatch, was compiled by HS Toni Attorneys at a cost of R1.8-million to taxpayers. It details a gloomy episode at Aspire.
The report reveals that Konza tried to shield Aspire CEO Nokulunga Mnqeta from being investigated by the board, and finds that Konza viewed the expiry of the board members’ term of office as the only solution to problems besetting Mnqeta.
Mnqeta was suspended in December for misconduct and bringing Aspire into disrepute. The CEO parted ways with Aspire in June after an out-of-court settlement.
The term of the board expired in July, paving the way for the council to rehire Mnqeta as CEO of Aspire – and she qresumed in this position on Wednesday.
“We are confident the council will make a proper judgement after the report is tabled,” Mkhosana said.
The report states: “Of primary concern is the letter from the executive mayor instructing the board to withdraw the suspension of the CEO, even before the investigation commenced.
“This letter was perceived by the board as interference by the mayor in the operational affairs of Aspire in an attempt to protect the CEO from being investigated.
“The second source of concern was the words attributed by the board chairperson to the mayor when she asked, when is the board’s term of office expiring.
“This could be reasonably interpreted as the only solution to the problems besetting the CEO is the expiry of the board’s term of office.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Amathole mayor will release controversial report
This follows an intervention by the provincial ANC leadership.
Last Monday Konza was called to a meeting with ANC provincial executive committee members and former Aspire board members at Calata House, the provincial ANC headquarters in King William’s Town.
This was apparently to get her explanation on why she had not tabled the damning report drawn up by a law firm into the Aspire meltdown, which implicated her in interference.
Aspire is ADM’s economic development agency. ADM spokesman Siyabulela Makhunga said yesterday: “Yes, I can confirm that the mayor will table the report in the next council meeting.”
ADM council speaker Samkelo Janda also confirmed Konza had undertaken to table the report and its findings on August 21.
Former board chairman Vanguard Mkhosana said the board had been trying since February to get Konza to table the report.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane told the Daily Dispatch yesterday: “We met at the board’s request. We are now looking at reports furnished to us. We believe the matter still needs to be handled responsibly by the board and ADM.”
The 116-page report, which has been seen by the Dispatch, was compiled by HS Toni Attorneys at a cost of R1.8-million to taxpayers. It details a gloomy episode at Aspire.
The report reveals that Konza tried to shield Aspire CEO Nokulunga Mnqeta from being investigated by the board, and finds that Konza viewed the expiry of the board members’ term of office as the only solution to problems besetting Mnqeta.
Mnqeta was suspended in December for misconduct and bringing Aspire into disrepute. The CEO parted ways with Aspire in June after an out-of-court settlement.
The term of the board expired in July, paving the way for the council to rehire Mnqeta as CEO of Aspire – and she qresumed in this position on Wednesday.
“We are confident the council will make a proper judgement after the report is tabled,” Mkhosana said.
The report states: “Of primary concern is the letter from the executive mayor instructing the board to withdraw the suspension of the CEO, even before the investigation commenced.
“This letter was perceived by the board as interference by the mayor in the operational affairs of Aspire in an attempt to protect the CEO from being investigated.
“The second source of concern was the words attributed by the board chairperson to the mayor when she asked, when is the board’s term of office expiring.
“This could be reasonably interpreted as the only solution to the problems besetting the CEO is the expiry of the board’s term of office.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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