Scores of applications for BCM municipal manager job

So great is the interest in the vacant Buffalo City Metro’s top administration post that more than 80 applications have been received for the lucrative R2m a year city manager’s job.

On Thursday executive mayor Xola Pakati confirmed the metro had received a record number of applications, attributing the interest to the “stability” of the city council and its administration.

The vacancy arose after Andile Sihlahla’s five-year term lapsed recently.

Pakati said city bosses were now consolidating the list before interviews were held. The entire process was expected to take 12 weeks.

By the June 2 deadline, more than 80 interested candidates had tendered their applications for the job, which was advertised on May 16.

Pakati said the process would culminate in three shortlisted names being sent to the ANC for a decision on who would take over from Sihlahla — assuming someone does, as it is understood he is among the applicants.

The minimum salary package for the post in a category six municipality is just over R1.4m, while the maximum total remuneration package currently stands at R1.98m, as gazetted in March 2020.

Pakati said: “I can confirm that indeed we have, by deadline, received a record number of interested candidates.

“I guess there is so much interest in this post because we are the only metro in the country that is relatively stable. I think people have interest here because we are not in a fighting coalition government, as is the case with other metros around the country.

“Yes we might have issues among ourselves, but we are the only metro that is politically and administratively stable, and people prefer a stable working environment.

“I do not think there is such a huge interest for people to work in other metros as anything could happen there.”

While declining to reveal any of the names on the list, Pakati confirmed there were some “big capable names from around the country” among those who had shown interest. 

The metro’s engineering director Nceba Ncunyana is acting as city manager.

Requirements for the top job include an NQA-level qualification in public administration, political sciences, social sciences, built environment or law, or an equivalent.

A certificate in municipal financial management is also required. If the candidate did not have this, he or she would be given 18 months from the date of appointment to obtain it.

Interested candidates should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience as a manager in the local government sphere, of which five years had to be at a senior management level.

Advanced knowledge and understanding of relevant policy and legislation and advanced understanding of institutional governance systems and performance management were necessary, while one of the key performance areas included managing an economic, efficient and accountable administration. 

DispatchLIVE