Ngqushwa on hunt for yet another MM
PEDDIE-based Ngqushwa local municipality the latest provincial council to search for municipal manager (MM).
This as the two-year contract of current MM Thandekile Mnyimba, lapses at the end of May.
The municipality yesterday placed an advertisement in local media calling for interested candidates to submit CVs for the lucrative position before the cut-off date of April 28.
According to an advert placed by mayor Mnikelo Siwisa in the Daily Dispatch yesterday, the successful candidate will have to take over the municipality’s administration reins for the next five years. Because Ngqushwa is a category 2 municipality, the post comes with a total annual package of R1.1-million.
Siwisa could not be reached for comment at the time of writing yesterday. However, his advert states that interested candidates should possess a recognised bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, political science, is a law or an equivalent NQF level 7 qualification. A certificate in municipal finance management, coupled with 7-10 years experience at management level, five of which should have been at an executive senior management post in local government level, are also requirements.
Siwisa stated in the advert that the successful candidate should also have extensive experience in financial management, policy development, strategic planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation and reporting on service delivery. “That person must be an excellent communicator at all levels, visionary and an inspirational leader.”
The successful candidate will be the fourth MM at the municipality in five years.
In 2012 Unathi Malinzi left the municipality only two months after she had assumed office.
At the time she alleged political interference in employment and tender awarding, saying she could no longer tolerate such behaviour from her then political bosses.
Then came Vuyokazi Mbelani who resigned after she was suspended on various charges including alleged gross insubordination.
Mbelani’s suspension in 2014 came after she had written to the National Treasury and the provincial government complaining about political interference in the awarding of tenders and employment of senior personnel.
In the letter to National Treasury which was seen by the Dispatch at the time, Mbelani accused senior politicians of trying to force her to award tenders to service providers of their choice.
She also claimed to have been forced by politicians to hire senior administrators they preferred, while she also accused them of transferring state money to other bank accounts without her knowledge.
At the time Mbelani said her suspension was part of a political ploy aimed at removing her “as I am seen as a stumbling block in the looting of municipal coffers”.
Buffalo City Metro is also in the process of filling Andile Fani’s post, while Mnquma municipality which has an acting MM, also needs to fill the late Sindile Tantsi’s position. —