The Buffalo City Metro (BCM) has extended the contract of its interim municipal manager (MM) by another three months.
Nceba Ncunyana, who is head of infrastructure services, was appointed acting MM on November 13 after Andile Fani was placed on suspension.
Fani was suspended on September 8 following various allegations of irregularity, one of which involved a R73-million contract to build houses in Reeston. Ncunyana took over the reins from chief financial officer Vincent Pillay, who served in an acting capacity between September and November.
His three-month stint as the metro’s administration boss was supposed to lapse on February 12, but council last week endorsed a contract extension of a further three months.
A final decision by cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa, is still pending however, as he has to give the final nod before any senior manager can serve in an acting capacity for a period of more than three months.
This is contained in a confidential report tabled by executive mayor Alfred Mtsi at a council meeting last Wednesday, also seen by the Daily Dispatch.
Fani, Mtsi and Ncunyana could not be reached at the time of writing yesterday.
Metro spokesman Keith Ngesi said the extension of Ncunyana’s acting contract was a confidential matter. Asked about progress made with Fani's suspension and disciplinary hearing, Ngesi again refused to shed any light on the matter.
“As the communication directorate, we do not know anything about DC matters. We don’t know how far the process is or any dates set for the hearings.
“Because those are confidential internal processes, we can only talk about their outcomes to the public once all the processes have been completed,” Ngesi said.
Attempts to get comment from ANC chief whip Mzwandile Vaaibom proved fruitless.
The DA’s caucus leader Terrence Fritz, said his party was not concerned about Ncunyana’s contract extension.
“However what we are deeply concerned about is the delays in the finalisation of the Fani matter. It cannot be acceptable for him to just sit at home while earning his salary.”
Meanwhile, another confidential report also tabled by Mtsi in last week’s council meeting, shows that the metro also plans to extend by three months the acting contract of Kholekile Tapile as head of municipal services, while plans to find a permanent incumbent are ongoing.