The outgoing Buffalo City Metro council this week renewed acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana’s contract for another three months, as the council continues its long and “costly” fight with suspended city manager Andile Fani.
Ncunyana’s appointment raised a lot of unhappiness among the councillors, who questioned when the Fani matter would be finalised, as the city boss continued to earn money while sitting at home for more than 10 months now.
Fani was suspended amid allegations of financial misconduct relating to various multimillion-rand contracts awarded by the city under his watch.
In March this year, further charges were to be laid against him over R450-million in alleged irregular expenditure incurred by the city.
The Dispatch recently reported that council had resolved to add more charges against Fani in relation to four multimillion-rand tenders.
Ncunyana’s new appointment was revealed in a confidential report seen by the Dispatch.
He was asked to leave the council meeting with other officials on Wednesday, while councillors debated the matter.
In June, before the state of the metro address, Ncunyana told the Dispatch that Fani’s disciplinary process was being handled by an external firm and the metro had no way of overseeing the process.
He said then he hoped the matter would be finalised by August.
Executive Mayor Alfred Mtsi had expressed concern over the slow pace of the disciplinary hearing, saying it was “costly” to the metro.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Fani declined to comment, saying he would respond in “full” after consulting with his lawyers.
The council also resolved this week that an application be made to cooperative government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa for concurrence with the extension of the appointment for a further three months.
Councillors questioned why the Fani case report had not been submitted to the council to give details of the progress and highlight the need for the contract extension before the report to extend Ncunyana’s was considered.
“What happens if Fani’s case is resolved before Ncunyana’s contract comes to an end? Will they pay both?” said a councillor.
The Dispatch understands that Fani’s contract with BCM comes to an end in March next year.
Ncunyana’s new extension of contract will run from August 13 to November 12 this year. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Paying Fani and stand-in ‘too costly’
Ncunyana’s appointment raised a lot of unhappiness among the councillors, who questioned when the Fani matter would be finalised, as the city boss continued to earn money while sitting at home for more than 10 months now.
Fani was suspended amid allegations of financial misconduct relating to various multimillion-rand contracts awarded by the city under his watch.
In March this year, further charges were to be laid against him over R450-million in alleged irregular expenditure incurred by the city.
The Dispatch recently reported that council had resolved to add more charges against Fani in relation to four multimillion-rand tenders.
Ncunyana’s new appointment was revealed in a confidential report seen by the Dispatch.
He was asked to leave the council meeting with other officials on Wednesday, while councillors debated the matter.
In June, before the state of the metro address, Ncunyana told the Dispatch that Fani’s disciplinary process was being handled by an external firm and the metro had no way of overseeing the process.
He said then he hoped the matter would be finalised by August.
Executive Mayor Alfred Mtsi had expressed concern over the slow pace of the disciplinary hearing, saying it was “costly” to the metro.
Contacted for comment yesterday, Fani declined to comment, saying he would respond in “full” after consulting with his lawyers.
The council also resolved this week that an application be made to cooperative government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa for concurrence with the extension of the appointment for a further three months.
Councillors questioned why the Fani case report had not been submitted to the council to give details of the progress and highlight the need for the contract extension before the report to extend Ncunyana’s was considered.
“What happens if Fani’s case is resolved before Ncunyana’s contract comes to an end? Will they pay both?” said a councillor.
The Dispatch understands that Fani’s contract with BCM comes to an end in March next year.
Ncunyana’s new extension of contract will run from August 13 to November 12 this year. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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