In addition to cash-strapped Enoch Mgijima local municipality struggling to pay its debt and render services to its community, no one has been appointed since the suspension of its municipal manager.
And Bhisho-appointed administrator Vuyo Mlokoti – who started a month ago on September 14 – has taken two weeks leave.
Enoch Mgijima mayor Sisisi Tolashe said the municipality had not yet appointed an acting municipal manager and plans were afoot to convene a council meeting.
Municipal manager Chris Magwangqana has been on precautionary suspension since October 5.
“The municipal administration is currently being managed collectively by the administrator’s office and the existing management.
“The administrator is on leave as per a prior arrangement and the leave started on Thursday last week,” said Tolashe.
She said Sabelo Tini, who is currently serving as municipal development finance director at the provincial office of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, had taken over as the acting administrator.
“Tini will serve as the acting administrator until October 22 when the administrator is back at the municipality to continue with his duties as per the terms of reference,” she said.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam said Mlokoti and Tini’s salaries were paid by the department, as they still remained Cogta employees.
Democratic Alliance councillor Malibongwe Xhelisilo said the municipality was totally dysfunctional without a municipal manager or an administrator.
“The municipality has been operating without a municipal manager for more than two weeks and that is affecting the municipality.
“The acting municipal manager should have been appointed straight after the suspension of Magwangqana to avoid the vacuum.
“The plans by the ruling party to cripple this municipality and later dissolve it is not an answer to the problems faced by the municipality.
“That will not bring money into the institution,” Xhelisilo said.
He said both heads of the institution were absent, which was affecting the municipality’s operations...