Enoch Mgijima suspends technical services director

The Enoch Mgijima municipality council has suspended its technical services director with immediate effect.

The council took the decision at a special council meeting on Thursday, ordering its accounting officer, Nokuthula Mgijima, to inform Sonwabile Nomandela in writing of his suspension and appoint an independent investigator to review allegations against him.

Mayor Luleka Gubula said the probe should be complete within 30 days. “Co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana DlaminiZuma and MEC Xolile Nqatha are to be notified within seven days of the suspension,” she said. A letter from Mgijima dated February 3, giving Nomandela notice of his precautionary suspension, states that disciplinary measures against Nomandela are to follow for failing to execute his responsibility as clearly stipulated in the municipal finance management act. Mgijima says Nomandela faces allegations of making statements to her relating to expenditure on the municipal infrastructure grant for the 2019/2020 financial year that are misleading and constitute gross dishonesty. Responding in a letter dated February 10, Nomandela says the “allegations should be treated as poor work performance and that any process that may be followed be treated as a poor work performance process instead of a disciplinary process.”

He says the claims lack supporting evidence.

Co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and MEC Xolile Nqatha are to be notified within seven days of the suspension