The former manager of Great Kei Municipality, Andile Sihlahla, is expected to take over the reins as the new boss of Buffalo City Metro (BCM).
The metro is expected to make an announcement later this month, but is keeping its cards close to its chest.
BCM executive mayor Xola Pakati confirmed that the process was nearing completion, but would not divulge the identity of the preferred candidate.
He said he could only do so once council had given its official stamp of approval for the recommendation.
“Yes, we have concluded the interviews and as a panel made a decision on the suitable candidate,” he said.
“We are now busy compiling a report that we will present in council during a meeting at the end of this month.
“However, we cannot divulge much detail on the matter until all due processes have been completed,” said Pakati.
The Daily Dispatch has spoken to municipal sources who said the four-member selection panel led by Pakati had chosen Sihlahla.
He is said to have beaten 47 other candidates for the metro’s top administration post and will take over from former city manager Andile Fani, who was fired last year.
Officials said all that remained was for the ANC and council to approve the appointment.
Sihlahla – who also has experience directing properties, estates, legal advice and administration at Gauteng’s Ekurhuleni Metro – could not be reached for comment at the time of writing yesterday.
The Daily Dispatch did an online search of Sihlahla, which revealed that he was born in Queenstown (now known as Komani) in 1964.
While at high school he served in the local branch leadership structure of the Congress of South African Students.
In 1983 he dropped out of school in Standard 8 (now Grade 10) and worked for Cosatu affiliates.
Seven years later he returned to school to complete his matric and went on to study at the University of Fort Hare, where he graduated with BJuris and LLB degrees.
Sihlahla has also previously served on the leadership of the South African Students Congress and South African Municipal Workers’ Union.
He was a transformation manager for the Gauteng government and a director at the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
He was relieved of his duties, along with six other directors, in 2004 by then economic affairs, environment and tourism MEC Andre de Wet.
De Wet at the time said his decision to sack the seven was based on a forensic report that showed irregularities in the sale of the Mpekweni resort near Port Alfred by the ECDC to a business consortium.
De Wet refused to produce the report, saying it was confidential.
BCM set to announce new boss
The metro is expected to make an announcement later this month, but is keeping its cards close to its chest.
BCM executive mayor Xola Pakati confirmed that the process was nearing completion, but would not divulge the identity of the preferred candidate.
He said he could only do so once council had given its official stamp of approval for the recommendation.
“Yes, we have concluded the interviews and as a panel made a decision on the suitable candidate,” he said.
“We are now busy compiling a report that we will present in council during a meeting at the end of this month.
“However, we cannot divulge much detail on the matter until all due processes have been completed,” said Pakati.
The Daily Dispatch has spoken to municipal sources who said the four-member selection panel led by Pakati had chosen Sihlahla.
He is said to have beaten 47 other candidates for the metro’s top administration post and will take over from former city manager Andile Fani, who was fired last year.
Officials said all that remained was for the ANC and council to approve the appointment.
Sihlahla – who also has experience directing properties, estates, legal advice and administration at Gauteng’s Ekurhuleni Metro – could not be reached for comment at the time of writing yesterday.
The Daily Dispatch did an online search of Sihlahla, which revealed that he was born in Queenstown (now known as Komani) in 1964.
While at high school he served in the local branch leadership structure of the Congress of South African Students.
In 1983 he dropped out of school in Standard 8 (now Grade 10) and worked for Cosatu affiliates.
Seven years later he returned to school to complete his matric and went on to study at the University of Fort Hare, where he graduated with BJuris and LLB degrees.
Sihlahla has also previously served on the leadership of the South African Students Congress and South African Municipal Workers’ Union.
He was a transformation manager for the Gauteng government and a director at the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
He was relieved of his duties, along with six other directors, in 2004 by then economic affairs, environment and tourism MEC Andre de Wet.
De Wet at the time said his decision to sack the seven was based on a forensic report that showed irregularities in the sale of the Mpekweni resort near Port Alfred by the ECDC to a business consortium.
De Wet refused to produce the report, saying it was confidential.
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