BCM re-advertises top posts after nearly a year

THE Buffalo City Metro has finally re-advertised four vacancies for top positions in the metro.

It is hoped that filling these positions will bring some stability to the troubled departments after Eastern Cape department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa rejected flawed appointments made in April last year.

The advertisement for the heads of department posts was placed yesterday and includes a head for economic development and agencies; human settlements; municipal services; and health and public safety.

Council has approved the process plan for the filling of the posts.

The closing date for applications is March 31, the shortlisting will be done in April, interviews in May and the appointments will be made in July or August.

Sandile Booi is currently acting as head in the municipal services department, Steve Terwin in the health and public safety department, acting city manager Bob Naidoo is the “caretaker” of the economic development department, while Mthunzi Ngonyama is acting in the human settlements department.

Xasa last year refused to concur the appointment of Booi as head of human settlement stating that BCM should write to the National Treasury “seeking a waiver on the minimum competency regulations by providing advice of its intention to appoint an official not in possession of the minimum competency requirements”.

He also rejected the appointment of Noludwe Ncokazi as head of economic development and agencies citing that she did not meet the requirements in terms of the National Treasury regulations.

The appointments of Vuyani Lwana as head of health and public safety and Neo Moerane as head of municipal services were also rejected, as Xasa cited recruitment processes “must be complied with” and the posts should be re-advertised.

The delays in appointing the departments bosses has had a negative affect on the functioning and service delivery in the metro.

“There is lack of leadership and direction within the directorates as a result of the delay in appointments,” Pakati stated in a report tabled in council recently. —