Some Buffalo City officials are likely to have a dismal Christmas this year.This follows a council resolution on Wednesday placing a moratorium on all secondments until the metro finalises its organogram and fills all vacant positions – and to withdraw secondments where those acting in posts are inadequately skilled for them.
The Daily Dispatch has reported several times on how BCM officials, including South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) leaders, have benefited from secondments to senior positions for years.
In one case, a seconded former Samwu leader enjoyed a more than 400% salary increase.
In another case, a Samwu leader – employed as a general worker – was seconded as a programme manager, a “promotion” that saw his monthly salary jump from R8500 to R31600.
Other Samwu members did not take kindly to these developments, and petitioned council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele to investigate the criteria used to identify the beneficiaries.
On June 24, BCM assigned mayor Alfred Mtsi to approach Corporative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan to investigate whether proper appointment processes had been followed.
Gordhan’s investigation found there was insufficient evidence to back up Samwu’s allegations that too many officials had been seconded. But he did find it odd that it was up to a supervisor to determine whether an official could be seconded.
“There is no criteria for skills, expertise, competencies and qualifications,” Gordhan said in his letter to Mtsi.
“In the short to medium term, the municipality must place a moratorium on further secondments of staff and urgent attention should be given to the final placement of staff in the organisational structure,” Gordhan wrote.
The auditor-general was currently auditing the hiring processes followed, as well as those individuals currently seconded to senior positions, he also announced.
The council adopted Gordhan’s recommendations, and added an amendment that those found not to have met basic requirements such as qualifications and experience “be de-seconded”.
Speaking during the council seating, ANC councillor Sakhumzi Caga said the AG’s investigation will “determine whether these secondees do meet the requirements. In cases where they do not, they must be de-seconded”.
Caga said BCM’s secondment policy needed scrutiny. “As indicated by the minister, it can be open to manipulation by management. I’m proposing that we identify the gaps that lead to manipulation by management. By the look of things, the policy has already been manipulated.”
In agreement with Caga was BCM deputy mayor Xola Pakati, who said the policy review should also take into account skills and expertise.
“It should be about the person meeting the minimum requirements of the job or post,” he said.
“The policy should talk to deadlines because secondment should not be a permanent feature,” he added.
The deputy mayor stressed that urgent attention “should be given to final placement of staff in the organisational structure”.
“ talks to people who qualify to be hired permanently but that does not rule out those who are currently seconded. The issue here is secondment of people who did not necessarily qualify for the post,” he added.
PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo distanced his party from the amendment to the minister’s report, saying “for the record” that they did not agree with de-secondment. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
BCM puts moratorium on secondment of officials
This follows a council resolution on Wednesday placing a moratorium on all secondments until the metro finalises its organogram and fills all vacant positions – and to withdraw secondments where those acting in posts are inadequately skilled for them.
The Daily Dispatch has reported several times on how BCM officials, including South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) leaders, have benefited from secondments to senior positions for years.
In one case, a seconded former Samwu leader enjoyed a more than 400% salary increase.
In another case, a Samwu leader – employed as a general worker – was seconded as a programme manager, a “promotion” that saw his monthly salary jump from R8500 to R31600.
Other Samwu members did not take kindly to these developments, and petitioned council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele to investigate the criteria used to identify the beneficiaries.
On June 24, BCM assigned mayor Alfred Mtsi to approach Corporative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan to investigate whether proper appointment processes had been followed.
Gordhan’s investigation found there was insufficient evidence to back up Samwu’s allegations that too many officials had been seconded. But he did find it odd that it was up to a supervisor to determine whether an official could be seconded.
“There is no criteria for skills, expertise, competencies and qualifications,” Gordhan said in his letter to Mtsi.
“In the short to medium term, the municipality must place a moratorium on further secondments of staff and urgent attention should be given to the final placement of staff in the organisational structure,” Gordhan wrote.
The auditor-general was currently auditing the hiring processes followed, as well as those individuals currently seconded to senior positions, he also announced.
The council adopted Gordhan’s recommendations, and added an amendment that those found not to have met basic requirements such as qualifications and experience “be de-seconded”.
Speaking during the council seating, ANC councillor Sakhumzi Caga said the AG’s investigation will “determine whether these secondees do meet the requirements. In cases where they do not, they must be de-seconded”.
Caga said BCM’s secondment policy needed scrutiny. “As indicated by the minister, it can be open to manipulation by management. I’m proposing that we identify the gaps that lead to manipulation by management. By the look of things, the policy has already been manipulated.”
In agreement with Caga was BCM deputy mayor Xola Pakati, who said the policy review should also take into account skills and expertise.
“It should be about the person meeting the minimum requirements of the job or post,” he said.
“The policy should talk to deadlines because secondment should not be a permanent feature,” he added.
The deputy mayor stressed that urgent attention “should be given to final placement of staff in the organisational structure”.
“ talks to people who qualify to be hired permanently but that does not rule out those who are currently seconded. The issue here is secondment of people who did not necessarily qualify for the post,” he added.
PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo distanced his party from the amendment to the minister’s report, saying “for the record” that they did not agree with de-secondment. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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