Managers’ contracts under scrutiny

Enoch Mgijima municipality wants the Grahamstown High Court to nullify contracts of five managers they believe were unlawfully renewed.

The five managers have until Friday to file opposing papers.

In January, council resolved to terminate the contracts of the five managers, saying they had been unlawfully appointed by suspended municipal manager Chris Magwangqana.

The posts were not budgeted for and have cost the municipality close to R3m since their appointment in July last year, council heard.

At January’s council meeting, mayor Sisisi Tolashe said the appointments of the managers had been sent for external legal verification owing to the complex nature of the issue and the legal implications.

The affected managers are:

● Similo Dayi, a former Tsolwana municipal manager who was appointed integrated planning and economic development;

● Former Tsolwana community services manager Doc Nxano and corporate services manager Mountain Siqaza who were appointed as Tarkastad unit manager and community safety general manager respectively;

● Former Inkwanca municipality community services manager Mzoxolo Dingani who was appointed as Molteno general manager; and

● Former Lukhanji municipality’s strategic manager Donavan van Wyk whose contract was extended indefinitely.

The Daily Dispatch has seen the court papers which asked for the managers’ contracts to be set aside and declared null and void.

Nxano and Dingani admitted to being served with court papers but declined to comment on the matter.

Van Wyk, Siqaza and Dayi said they had not received any court papers.

They also declined to comment.