The future of Emalahleni municipality mayor Nomveliso Nyukwana and municipal manager Sithembele Vatala hangs in the balance amid allegations of irregular appointments and nepotism.
The alleged wrongdoing is contained in a recently released report by co-operative governance & traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa. The MEC instructed the local council to take action.
The Cogta investigation report, seen by the Daily Dispatch, highlighted the irregular extension of a director’s contract, nepotism and irregular appointments at the municipality, among others.
Nyukwana is also accused of requesting R5,000 from a service provider contracted to do electricity connections in Emalahleni, which she claimed was a loan from a friend.
The report found Nyukwana’s conduct unethical and advised council to take steps against her.
The Daily Dispatch contacted Nyukwana, who said she had not yet received the report and would only be able to comment once she had.
The Cogta reports also found the renewal of Vatala’s contract and that of three directors to have contravened the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, which states that if the position of the municipal manager becomes vacant, council must advertise the post nationally to attract a pool of candidates.
Xasa said if the municipality continued paying Vatala, it would amount to irregular expenditure as he was not employed by the municipality.
“Council must rescind all the decisions and comply with the law on the directors and municipal manager contracts,” he said.
Vatala said he had not seen the report.
“I have requested a copy of the report and I still have to study it,” he said.
The Cogta report further highlighted:
● The appointment of an HIV co-ordinator, who did not meet requirements for the position;
● The appointment of a number of people alleged to be closely related to an Emalahleni official;
● The irregular appointment of a former councillor as housing adviser; and
● An official drawing two salaries – one as an EPWP worker and the other a worker at a municipal farm.
“The cases investigated indicated a likelihood of manipulation of employment processes to favour certain candidates, especially on junior positions and temporary employment. Council to review the appointment processes of the cases,” said Xasa.
On procurement irregularities, Xasa said evidence presented indicated vulnerability of the municipality’s supply chain management unit and non-compliance with SCM regulations including the Municipal Finance Management Act...