In A last-minute scramble to save two senior managers from the axe, Buffalo City Metro has changed their titles from director to project manager.
This was after the MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Fikile Xasa, refused to approve their appointments.
The two – former MEC Neo Moerane and Noludwe Ncokazi – were appointed in March to head the directorates of municipal services and economic development respectively.
They have now been made project managers.
Xasa had asked BCM executive mayor Alfred Mtsi why there was no representative from Cogta on the panel as required by law when Moerane and Ncokazi were interviewed.
The Daily Dispatch learned yesterday that Xasa has now also questioned the council’s sudden change in their job designations.
Cogta provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said Xasa wanted to ensure compliance on the part of the metro.
“In this case the MEC has written back to the leadership of BCM asking for more supporting documents to their submission.
“As a consequence, there are ongoing engagements between BCM and Cogta officials to address the issues at hand.”
Among documents requested by the MEC were qualifications, a list of candidates shortlisted for the posts and proof that the posts had been advertised.
Mtsi’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said: “At this stage we’re unable to comment on the matter of the two HoDs as the matter is being handled by the office of BCM executive mayor Alfred Mtsi and the MEC .”
“We are aware that there might be possible legal implications, and thus it is prudent for us at this stage not to debate this matter in the media.”
BCM’s DA caucus leader Jan Smit said: “I cannot see how council can change it and make them project managers … it’s a great concern that the designations have changed and I think that’s unfair.
“They were interviewed as directors and now council has changed them.
“There were no reasons for the change of designations.”
PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo said the ANC had used its majority in the council to get the two appointments approved.
“The ANC used its majority to bulldoze the opposition so council can take wrong decisions.
“As the opposition, we said they must hire the previous candidates selected in a procedural process during the first round of interviews.
“The ANC delayed. These are some of the issues that Buffalo City citizens need to punish the ANC for on August3.”
He said the two were still earning directors’ salaries.
No response had been received at the time of writing to requests for comment from ANC chief whip Mzwandile Vaaibom. —msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Outcry as BCM alters status of two directors
This was after the MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Fikile Xasa, refused to approve their appointments.
The two – former MEC Neo Moerane and Noludwe Ncokazi – were appointed in March to head the directorates of municipal services and economic development respectively.
They have now been made project managers.
Xasa had asked BCM executive mayor Alfred Mtsi why there was no representative from Cogta on the panel as required by law when Moerane and Ncokazi were interviewed.
The Daily Dispatch learned yesterday that Xasa has now also questioned the council’s sudden change in their job designations.
Cogta provincial spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam said Xasa wanted to ensure compliance on the part of the metro.
“In this case the MEC has written back to the leadership of BCM asking for more supporting documents to their submission.
“As a consequence, there are ongoing engagements between BCM and Cogta officials to address the issues at hand.”
Among documents requested by the MEC were qualifications, a list of candidates shortlisted for the posts and proof that the posts had been advertised.
Mtsi’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi said: “At this stage we’re unable to comment on the matter of the two HoDs as the matter is being handled by the office of BCM executive mayor Alfred Mtsi and the MEC .”
“We are aware that there might be possible legal implications, and thus it is prudent for us at this stage not to debate this matter in the media.”
BCM’s DA caucus leader Jan Smit said: “I cannot see how council can change it and make them project managers … it’s a great concern that the designations have changed and I think that’s unfair.
“They were interviewed as directors and now council has changed them.
“There were no reasons for the change of designations.”
PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo said the ANC had used its majority in the council to get the two appointments approved.
“The ANC used its majority to bulldoze the opposition so council can take wrong decisions.
“As the opposition, we said they must hire the previous candidates selected in a procedural process during the first round of interviews.
“The ANC delayed. These are some of the issues that Buffalo City citizens need to punish the ANC for on August3.”
He said the two were still earning directors’ salaries.
No response had been received at the time of writing to requests for comment from ANC chief whip Mzwandile Vaaibom. —msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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