The King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality seems to be an administrative hot potato – two candidates who applied for the municipal manager’s position have suddenly withdrawn at the last minute.
One applicant, Mlamli Zenzile, who is the corporate services director at Koukamma Municipality, was the only candidate to go ahead with his interview.
However, the council wants the process done again so that they can consider at least three candidates.
In the eyes of some councillors, the entire recruitment process was flawed, with some blaming “outside pressure”.
In a council meeting last week, the KSD council could not come to a decision saying there was no way they could consider only a single applicant and that the municipality should instead ask cooperative governance MEC Fikile Xasa to extend the term of former acting municipal manager Zolisa Mdikane.
A report discussed in council about the municipal manager post read: “After reflecting on the whole process the panel resolved to recommend to council…that it is unable to make the recommendation as only one candidate, Mr Zenzile, has been subjected to the recruitment process.”
The Daily Dispatch could not verify why the other candidates had pulled out of the recruitment process.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the recruitment process was being handled by council.
“The council is handling the municipal manager matter. It is in the best interests of council to ensure that the matter is concluded for the benefit of the municipality and the community at large. We cannot go into detail about the intricacies of the processes that have taken place thus far but all I can say is that the matter is getting the best attention it deserves.”
ANC regional secretary in OR Tambo Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the council should take a decision that was in the best interests of the municipality.
“One of the areas of the auditor general’s findings is the municipality’s inability to appoint staff to critical posts, such as manager’s position is one of the most critical in stabilising the administration of the KSD.
“Secondly, KSD has been without a manager for more than a year. The post has been advertised three times already without attracting who the municipality deems as suitably qualified candidates.”
He said KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa had written to Xasa asking for his nod to head-hunt a candidate for the position. “The advice was that they should follow the normal process, which has produced the current scenario. Our view is that if the candidate that the municipality interviewed has all the necessary attributes, such a candidate must be subjected to the council and the council should take a decision in the interests of the municipality,” said Ngcukayithobi.
Civic Alliance of South Africa councillor Pasika Nontshiza said it was concerning that the council could not take decisive action on the recruitment process which had been pending for more than 12 months.
“The external influence and manipulation cannot be overlooked in this matter, particularly now that we are heading for the 2016 local government elections which will be highly contested.
“It will be a matter for the residents of KSD municipality to demand answers from their representatives because the institution does not have a head of administration.”
Candidates snub KSD manager post
One applicant, Mlamli Zenzile, who is the corporate services director at Koukamma Municipality, was the only candidate to go ahead with his interview.
However, the council wants the process done again so that they can consider at least three candidates.
In the eyes of some councillors, the entire recruitment process was flawed, with some blaming “outside pressure”.
In a council meeting last week, the KSD council could not come to a decision saying there was no way they could consider only a single applicant and that the municipality should instead ask cooperative governance MEC Fikile Xasa to extend the term of former acting municipal manager Zolisa Mdikane.
A report discussed in council about the municipal manager post read: “After reflecting on the whole process the panel resolved to recommend to council…that it is unable to make the recommendation as only one candidate, Mr Zenzile, has been subjected to the recruitment process.”
The Daily Dispatch could not verify why the other candidates had pulled out of the recruitment process.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the recruitment process was being handled by council.
“The council is handling the municipal manager matter. It is in the best interests of council to ensure that the matter is concluded for the benefit of the municipality and the community at large. We cannot go into detail about the intricacies of the processes that have taken place thus far but all I can say is that the matter is getting the best attention it deserves.”
ANC regional secretary in OR Tambo Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the council should take a decision that was in the best interests of the municipality.
“One of the areas of the auditor general’s findings is the municipality’s inability to appoint staff to critical posts, such as manager’s position is one of the most critical in stabilising the administration of the KSD.
“Secondly, KSD has been without a manager for more than a year. The post has been advertised three times already without attracting who the municipality deems as suitably qualified candidates.”
He said KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa had written to Xasa asking for his nod to head-hunt a candidate for the position. “The advice was that they should follow the normal process, which has produced the current scenario. Our view is that if the candidate that the municipality interviewed has all the necessary attributes, such a candidate must be subjected to the council and the council should take a decision in the interests of the municipality,” said Ngcukayithobi.
Civic Alliance of South Africa councillor Pasika Nontshiza said it was concerning that the council could not take decisive action on the recruitment process which had been pending for more than 12 months.
“The external influence and manipulation cannot be overlooked in this matter, particularly now that we are heading for the 2016 local government elections which will be highly contested.
“It will be a matter for the residents of KSD municipality to demand answers from their representatives because the institution does not have a head of administration.”
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