BCM spokesman to fight for job

Acting manager questions appointment of outsider

ACTING Buffalo City Metro communications manager Sibusiso Cindi is said to be challenging his employer’s decision to appoint an outsider to the position on a permanent basis.

This is according to sources in the metro, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Saturday Dispatch understands that Cindi’s lawyers have submitted papers to metro authorities outlining his plan to oppose the appointment.

The position was left vacant following the departure of Keith Ngesi last year.

Cindi was first appointed as former BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha’s spokesman two years ago, while Ngesi was still the municipality’s spokesman.

Ncitha’s move to appoint her own spokesman is believed to have been due to tensions between political and administration bosses at the time.

When Ngesi left last year, Cindi took over the position in an acting capacity.

When the position was advertised last year, it is believed only three candidates made the shortlist – Cindi; senior manager in the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) mayor’s office Samkelo Ngwenya; and Thandy Matebese, who works in the metro’s communication department and is also a former spokesman.

It is understood that Ngwenya, who previously worked in BCM’s communication unit before relocating to ADM, landed the job and is expected to assume his new duties soon.

Matebese is said to have been the second best candidate and Cindi the third.

Neither Ngwenya nor Matebese could be reached for comment at the time of writing.

However, various municipal insiders, who asked to remain anonymous, yesterday confirmed that Cindi was taking legal action.

They allege he was not happy about the composition of the panel that selected Ngwenya and the processes followed during the interviews.

The selection panel was chaired by ANC councillor and developmental planning portfolio head Pumla Nazo, Cindi’s immediate boss Ondela Mahlangu, and a representative from the metro’s human resources unit and labour union Samwu’s Luzuko Charlie.

“Apparently he [Cindi] is bitter that he did not get the job as he feels he was the automatic choice as someone who acted in that position since Keith Ngesi left,” said one source.

“He also questioned the processes followed during the appointment of the new communications head and was unhappy that HR was represented by someone junior during such interviews,” said another.

Contacted for comment, Cindi would neither deny nor confirm he had served his bosses with legal papers.

All he would say was that the matter was between himself and his employer.

Speaking for the metro, Cindi said: “The policy of BCM is that matters pertaining to human resources and contracts of employment between the employer and employee are private, and are not supposed to be shared with the media nor any third parties.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za